Claremore Man Found Guilty Of Raping Young Girl

A Claremore man was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl over the course of more than two years.

A jury convicted Gary Dumont Riggs, 70, of first-degree rape, rape by instrumentation and lewd molestation, according to the district attorney's office.

District Attorney Matt Ballard said the jury recommended Riggs serve three life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years.

“In a sex crimes case I’ve never heard of a jury coming back with three life without possibility of parole sentences," Ballard said, giving credit to assistant DA Zach Cabell and the jury's determination to bring justice to the young girl. 

The abuse began when the girl was 12 years old, a news release states.

The young girl and two other alleged victims testified again Riggs during the trial. 

Riggs was arrested by the Verdigris Police Department in May 2015.  Sexual Assault Investigator Gary Stansill also worked the case against Riggs, the release states.

The trial took place last week with the jury returning the verdict late Friday.