NICHOLAS TAYLOR SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR AND SECOND-DEGREE RAPE

Wicomico County, MD - On August 15, 2024, the Honorable Kathleen L. Beckstead, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced Nicholas Taylor, age 44, of Ellendale, DE, to Forty (40) years of incarceration in the Division of Corrections.

Taylor previously pleaded guilty on April 11, 2024, to Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Second-Degree Rape, and sentencing had been deferred pending completion of a mandatory pre-sentence investigation and mental health assessment.

Following his active sentence, Taylor will be subject to Lifetime Sexual Offender Supervision and will be required to register as a Tier III Sexual Offender for life. Between 2015 and 2018, Taylor sexually abused a minor child within his household. The victim was under the age of 10.

Wicomico County State's Attorney (SA) Jamie L. Dykes said, "The sexual abuse of children is indescribable and horrific. The intimate trust that is exploited and manipulated by offenders in the perpetration of these offenses inflicts lifelong damage to survivors. This particular case was one of the worst instances of child abuse we have seen. Swift justice was delivered in this case due to the multi-disciplinary approach employed by the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center, the courage of the survivor, and the resolute sentence of the Court. I hope this disposition brings healing and closure to the survivor and their family."

SA Jamie L. Dykes commended Detective M. Rockwell of the Salisbury Police Department, who was the lead investigator, Child Protective Services, and members of the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center and Center for Hope's Child Advocacy Center for their work in the investigation. SA Dykes also commended Senior Assistant State's Attorney Michael Calabrese, who prosecuted the case and advocated for justice.