Ware man guilty of rape ***updated***

*** Update: Arthur E. Salsbury Jr. was sentenced to 9-13 1/2 years in prison on June 13, 2019.***

A Hampshire County jury has found Arthur E. Salsbury Jr. guilty of rape in connection with an incident in February 2018 in Dufresne Park in Granby.

Salsbury, 42, of Ware, was accused of bringing a woman to the park against her will and raping her, causing her to flee into a swamp where she hid for an hour in freezing temperatures. At trial, he faced two charges of aggravated rape and one charge of kidnapping.

The jury, which began deliberations on Friday, May 24, found Salsbury guilty of rape as a lesser included offense of aggravated rape and not guilty on a second count of aggravated rape and the kidnapping charge.

Sentencing by Judge John A. Agostini is scheduled for June 13, at 9 am. Salsbury’s bail was revoked and he will be held in custody pending sentencing.

“The Commonwealth is grateful for the jury’s close attention to the evidence introduced during the trial and thorough deliberations in this case. The Commonwealth commends the victim for her resolve in seeing this case through to trial and courage in testifying in a public courtroom about a horrific event for which the defendant now stands convicted,” said Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Suhl who prosecuted the case.