A 53 year old Paola man was found guilty of aggravated criminal sodomy following a two day trial at the Miami County Courthouse. It was the second jury trial to take place related to the case, which has been in the court since a 16 year old girl reported being raped by Scott Shay while camping at Lake Miola in August of 2015.
Shay was charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy and found guilty of both charges. He appealed the ruling and the Kansas Court of Appeals upheld the rape conviction but reversed the decision on the aggravated criminal sodomy charge. Miami County Attorney Elizabeth Sweeney-Reeder explained that a crime can be committed in more than one way and Shay was charged with aggravated criminal sodomy with the victim being overcome by force or fear. Sweeney-Reeder says the decision was made to have the second trial otherwise Shay would have only been required to serve the rape prison sentence of 13 years and 11 months.
