Man Convicted Of Sexually Abusing Child Almost Daily For Years In His Home

EDGEWOOD, MD — A 49-year-old Edgewood man has been convicted of sexually abusing a child who lived in his home almost every day for years.

Harold Ferguson was convicted of three counts of sex abuse of a minor following a four-day criminal jury trial in the Circuit Court for Harford County. This third trial comes after two previous mistrials resulting in hung juries, the prosecution said.

The conviction also follows a "contentious" motions hearing between the parties on a motion for other sexually assaultive behavior evidence, according to the prosecution.

Evidence presented at trial showed that between August 2004 and August 2008, Ferguson sexually abused the female child almost every day in an Edgewood home. The abuse began when the minor victim was six years old and the family lived in Baltimore City, and continued until she was a senior in high school, the prosecution said.

When the family moved to Harford County, Ferguson would sexually abuse the girl when no family members were home, according to the prosecution. He would also punish the victim when she refused his advances by taking away her possessions and the door to her bedroom.

Detective Horner with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office testified that he interviewed the victim’s boyfriend in 2021, who told him that he had had a threesome with Ferguson and the victim when they were around the age of 16.

Horner’s interview of the boyfriend’s statement was played for the jury when he told the detective he saw the victim performing oral sex on Ferguson in the basement of the family’s home.

Horner testified that he also interviewed the victim’s mother, who was "cold and distant," the prosecution noted. She failed to return for a follow-up interview with investigators regarding the abuse.

The victim testified that one day, she refused Ferguson's advances and a fight broke out that involved mace. The victim went to a friend's home in Baltimore City so she could tell her mother what had been happened.

Testimony from someone who was present when the victim told her mother what had happened said that her mother did not call 911, did not take her to the hospital and did not comfort her. After the family fight, the victim's mother forced her to confront Ferguson and he told the victim's mother that "She came on to me."

“Delayed report cases are some of the toughest cases we try. I commend Assistant State’s Attorney Becky Malkowski for her perseverance and determination in this case. She never gave up, and she truly is a champion for child sexual abuse victims. Her determination, along with the work of all the dedicated staff of the Harford County Child Advocacy Center, ensured that justice was served today and that a predator will no longer be in a position to victimize another child," stated State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey after the trial.