CORTLAND, NY (CortacaToday) – A Broome County man accused of grooming a minor in Cortland County has been found guilty of crimes.

District Attorney Patrick Perfetti says Alan Mitchell Jr., of Killawog, was convicted on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, of third-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

After a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, State Police arrested Mitchell in June 2022.  Investigators discovered a long series of explicit text messages led to Mitchell having intercourse with a child under the age of 17 in Freetown in 2020.

“Any type of sexual offense is a horrible thing,” said D.A. Perfetti. “However, it is particularly worse where the victim is a child. My office is committed to ensuring that sex offenders who abuse children will see the full weight of this office brought against them.”

Mitchell faces four years in state prison on the rape charge and up to 10 years of post-release supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced on January 2, 2025.