AUBURN - An Auburn man will serve time in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a child.

Judge Thomas Leone sentenced Elwood Raymond Thursday in Cayuga County Court to 5.5 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision.

Raymond, 27, of 41 Park St., Auburn, was convicted Dec. 11, 2007, of one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and one misdemeanor count of child endangerment.

A jury found that he had inappropriately touched a 5-year-old over her clothes.

The misdemeanor conviction carried a sentence of one year in prison, which will run concurrent with the larger prison term.

Raymond will also have to pay $1,370 in fees and surcharges, and Leone issued an order of protection for the victim.

Raymond was originally indicted on two counts of each charge after he was accused of abusing two children in the town of Niles in February 2007.

However, two of the charges were dismissed before they went to the jury because of insufficient evidence.

A jury also acquitted Raymond of sexual abuse charges in 2001.

Raymond, who denied the charges throughout the trial, maintained in a statement during court that he is not guilty.

“I didn't do anything wrong,” Raymond said before hearing his sentence.

Leone did not give Raymond to the maximum possible sentence of seven years. Raymond has a minimal criminal history, he said.

However, Leone said that he could not go along with the two to three years for which Raymond's attorney, Norman Chirco, asked.

“I am troubled by the fact that you are not owning up to any responsibility at all,” Leone said to Raymond. “There is a problem here. You have a problem.”

Also in court:

• James Wallis Jr. waived prosecution by indictment before pleading guilty to first-degree criminal contempt, a felony.

Wallis, 102 Snowdale Drive, Lysander, admitted that he violated an order of protection July 4, 2007, by calling his ex-girlfriend with the intent to harass her.

According to District Attorney Jon Budelmann, who is prosecuting the case, Wallis made more than 20 calls during the day.

Budelmann said he would recommend a sentence of two to four years in prison for the guilty plea.

Wallis is a second-felony offender.

Wallis is scheduled to be sentenced March 5.

• Scott Stockton, 20, of 1 Morris Drive, Locke, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on multiple drug charges.

He is charged with two felony counts each of criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities have accused Stockton of selling pills of the prescription painkiller OxyContin on two separate occasions in September 2007, Budelmann said.

He allegedly made more than $200 from each sale, Budelmann said.

Stockton is currently being held in Cayuga County Jail on bail of $5,000 cash and $10,000 bail.

• Michael Hall Sr. and his attorney, Kevin Taylor, did not appear at a scheduled court date.

The absence was due to a miscommunication, and Hall is now scheduled to appear Jan. 31, Leone said.

Hall faces a felony criminally negligent homicide charge.

He is accused of accidentally shooting his nephew, Ricky A. Huffman, 33, Nov. 16, 2007, while hunting on family property.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net