CORYDON — The jury took less than 15 minutes Saturday to decide the fate of a Jeffersonville man, whose trial on an accusation that he had oral sex with a 12-year-old girl started Wednesday with opening arguments in Harrison County.

The jury found George Anderson Reese Jr., 55, guilty of child molestation, a class A felony, punishable up to 50 years in prison. Prosecutor Otto Schalk said Reese’s sentencing is expected in 30 to 45 days. This week, the jury will decide whether that sentence should be enhanced, with 30 additional years, due to being a habitual offender, since he has previously been convicted of child molesting, a class D felony, and burglary, a class B felony, according to court records.

Schalk said he is confident the evidence will show Reese’s two prior convictions, allowing the jury to find him guilty on the additional count.

“George Reese is a bad man. The world is a better place knowing this man will die in prison,” Schalk said.

Reese was accused of being one of three men who were molesting children in a home in Palmyra in 2008. Five children lived in the home, along with multiple adults. Two other men who lived at that home have been sentenced for child molestation, involving the children in that home. Robert J. James Sr., 37, of New Albany, has pleaded guilty in two cases and is serving 80 years. Michael W. Priddy Jr., 23, of New Albany, was found guilty during trial and was sentenced to 75 years.

Reese — who had previously been talked to about his loud commentary, gestures and staring into the jury box — sat emotionless Saturday, looking down at the desk where he was sitting, as Deputy Prosecutor Nicholas Haverstock gave his closing argument in the case. Haverstock told the jury there have been 20 witnesses, 50 objections and days of testimony. He admitted that much of the testimony had inaccuracies. Witnesses varied on where the incident occurred and on other details about Reese’s stay. Haverstock said the sad reality was that the children in the home had been so abused, it is hard for them to remember every detail of one event. He said it is also hard for them to talk about that one event in court, while having to remember not to talk about any other incidents.

Haverstock pointed to expert testimony from multiple witnesses that have said children tend to lie about being molested when they have something to gain. He said the victim in this case and witnesses, including James, have nothing to gain for testifying and Reese going to prison.

He also reminded the jury about the polygraph exam Reese voluntarily took, where he showed deception when asked if he had oral sex with the 12-year-old.

“Trust your gut. You’ll be able to tell if a witness isn’t telling you the whole story or is trying to mislead you,” he said.

Reese’s attorney, Susan Schultz, told the jury this was one of her most difficult cases, due to the inconsistencies among witnesses. Reese rubbed his eyes and watched the jury as she spoke.

“I do not dispute that they have been abused and neglected…,” she said. “Your job is to decide whether George Reese was one of those people.”

She said the victim in this case initially said it happened 200 times, and later said it happened just once. Haverstock had previously said that was because the girl had been thinking about all the times she was forced to perform oral sex on men, not just the time involving Reese.

Schultz said if you can’t believe what that victim says, then you can’t believe all the people she had told about it.

Schultz reminded the jury that polygraphs are 92 percent accurate, leaving room for error in this case.

“[Reese] can be disagreeable and argumentative, but that doesn’t make him a child molester,” Schultz told the jury.

Reese stood for the reading of the verdict, shaking his head in disagreement as he heard the word “guilty” read out loud. The jury was then polled to verify the verdict. Each loudly repeated their personal vote of guilty for the court.

Schultz did not comment on the verdict.

To read the full coverage of this trial, go to www.newsandtribune.com.