Goshen man pleads guilty to predatory sexual assault against a child

GOSHEN - A Goshen man admitted in Orange County Court on Wednesday that he engaged in oral sexual conduct with a child under the age of 13.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said the defendant, Craig Merlock, 45, of Goshen, pleaded guilty to predatory sexual assault against a child, a felony.

During the plea proceedings, Merlock admitted that, being 18 years of age or older, he engaged in oral sexual conduct with an individual who was less than 13 years old on July 24, 2023.

Hoovler said that when Merlock is sentenced on Aug. 14, the people will recommend that he be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, which is the maximum sentence permitted by law.

Guilty verdict: Wallkill man accused of hiring hit man to kill neighbor convicted of murder, conspiracy

However, Hoovler's news release also noted that under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Merlock pleaded guilty, the court agreed to impose a sentence of 18 years to life in prison.

Merlock also will be registered as a sex offender.

"The violation of a child's innocence by vile sexual acts must be met with the strongest punishment available to the justice system," Hoovler said in a statement released by his office.

Merlock was represented by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County. A representative of that agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Guilty plea to predatory sexual conduct against a child