A man from Hebron, Joseph Burton, has been handed a 65-year prison term for the sexual abuse of three minors over an extended period of time.
Joseph Burton, aged 70, admitted guilt to three counts of sexual abuse of a minor on January 23, 2024. The incidents involved three children living in his household, with the abuse starting in 2018 when the children were between eight and sixteen years old.
On March 22nd, a judge at Wicomico County Circuit Court sentenced Burton to 65 years in prison and ordered him to register as a Tier III Sexual Offender for life.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes expressed dismay at the abuse, stating, “when any child is sexually abused it is horrific,” Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes said. “The fact that three children fell prey to this abuse is an unspeakable evil. There are many factors that led to justice in this case. Because of the diligent investigation by law enforcement, the multi-disciplinary approach employed by the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), the resolute sentence of the Court, and of course, the courage of the survivors, this offender will remain behind bars for decades to come.”
