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Lancaster man convicted of kidnapping, sexual assault

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A man was convicted Wednesday of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl who was grabbed by her ponytail while walking to school in Lancaster about a year and a half ago.

A Lancaster jury deliberated less than two hours before finding Charles Delshawn James, 31, guilty of kidnapping, sodomy, forcible sodomy of a minor, lewd act on a child, attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object and dissuading a witness by force or threat, according to Deputy District Attorney Keri Knittel.

Jurors also found true the allegations of kidnapping a minor and aggravated kidnapping.

James grabbed the 14-year-old girl by her ponytail and dragged her into some bushes, where he sodomized her on Dec. 13, 2012, according to testimony. He threatened to kill the girl and her family if she said anything, according to the prosecutor.

Forensic evidence led police to James, who was arrested in South Carolina days after the attack.

He is facing 77 years to life in state prison, with sentencing set for June 27, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

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