Brockport man sentenced to 7 years in prison after rape conviction

ALBION – A Brockport man, 29, was sentenced to seven years in state prison today after a jury convicted him on Dec. 7 of second-degree rape.

Matthew M. Edwards of West Ridge Road continued to profess his innocence today during sentencing. Edwards was found guilty by a jury of 13 counts of second-degree rape, 13 counts of second-degree criminal sexual act and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Edwards allegedly had sex with a 13-year-old girl in the Village of Holley between July 4 and Aug. 30, 2014.

District Attorney Joe Cardone asked Orleans County Court Judge James Punch to sentence Edwards to state prison. Cardone said Edwards has extensive criminal history, including other sex crimes.

Larry Koss, attorney for Edwards, said Edwards in past cases has admitted his crimes and pleaded guilty. If Edwards had pleaded guilty to the more recent charges, he could have reduced his prison sentence in a plea deal, Koss said. But Edwards has been consistent in denying the charges.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I’m not proud of,” Edwards said during sentencing this afternoon. “I’ve made a lot of bad choices. But I didn’t do this. I didn’t do these crimes. I deserve to go to prison but not for this crime.”

Edwards said he has struggled with drug and mental health issues. He said he would use his time in prison to work on those problems.

“I’m tired,” Edwards said. “This isn’t the life I want to lead.”

Judge Punch said a jury found Edwards guilty.

“I have no quarrel with the jury’s verdict,” Punch told Edwards. “You need to come to grips with what you did in this case.”

The judge also said there would be 15 years of post-release supervision for Edwards, and ordered that he pay a $1,000 victim fee, $325 court surcharge, $50 DNA fee, and $50 sex offender registry fee. The judge also issued an order of protection for the victim.