Ferguson sentenced; Miller facing arraignment
BY BRAD FRANKLIN

May 06, 2008

A Goochland man who plead guilty in February to the aggravated sexual battery of a 15-year-old girl has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 10 years suspended.

Craig Allen Ferguson, 35, was indicted in December by a Goochland grand jury on a single count of rape accomplished by using the victim’s mental incapacity or helplessness.

Ferguson, employed with the City of Richmond’s child protective services, entered an Alford plea of guilty to the lesser offense through a plea agreement on Feb. 8, which Circuit Court Judge Timothy K. Sanner accepted.

An Alford means one does not admit guilt but acknowledges that sufficient evidence exists for a conviction.

According to Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Claiborne H. Stokes, Sanner sentenced Ferguson on the prosecutor’s recommendation.

Ferguson met the girl through outreach efforts in his capacity as a volunteer with the Goochland County Fire-Rescue Department.

His initial contact with the victim came during Goochland Fire Camp, held July 16-20 last summer.

No alleged offenses took place during the camp but the two exchanged e-mail addresses and began communicating shortly thereafter.

When he was arrested, authorities found directions to the victim’s home in Ferguson’s vehicle.

Ferguson made several attempts to meet the girl, including going to the movie theatre at Short Pump Town Center while she was there with a friend on one occasion and also trying to get her to meet him at a street corner on another.

Upon the completion of his sentence, Stokes said he will be under supervised probation for the rest of his life. Ferguson will also have to register with the sex offender registry. 

Meanwhile, a Columbia woman accused of killing her boyfriend in February is set to appear in court on June 10 for arraignment.

Laura T. Miller, 48, faces first-degree murder charges stemming from the death of her boyfriend, identified as 49-year-old Ralph Carpenter, Jr.

Law enforcement officials say Miller shot and killed Carpenter on Feb. 19 in the home they shared in the 4000 block of Shannon Station Lane.

In addition to her arraignment, she will also be undergoing a sanity evaluation. 

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