CHENANGO COUNTY – Last week, a 36-year-old man was convicted of raping a child under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 16 years in state prison, with 20 years post-release supervision.

“This defendant has been held accountable for his despicable actions against an innocent child,” said District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese. “He deserves every day he spends in state prison.”

Matthew J. Baird, 36, of Columbus, pleaded guilty on May 19 to first-degree rape, a class B felony, admitting in court to raping a child less than 11 years old.

He was sentenced on June 9 in Chenango County Court before Judge Frank B. Revoir. The case involved a five-count grand jury indictment which included the top count of predatory sexual assault against a child, a class A-II felony, as well as additional counts of first-degree rape, sexual abuse and forcible touching.

Ferrarese said his office pursued the case aggressively and thanked First Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Rudy for her dedication to prosecuting crimes against children.

“The Chenango County District Attorney’s Office takes violent crimes against children very seriously,” he said. “If a person in our community commits a crime against a child and we possess the evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, my office will be asking for a lengthy state prison sentence because that person poses a permanent danger to the law-abiding members of our community and innocent children.”

He also thanked the Chenango County Sheriff’s Detective Division, especially Detective Sergeant Chad O’Hara and Detective Ariana Robinson for their assistance in prosecuting this case.

Prosecutors said Baird engaged in sexual conduct with the child during the months of November and December 2024. Prosecutors offered a plea deal after consultation with the child’s family and to spare the victim from having to testify in court.

“This was the defendant’s first criminal conviction,” said Rudy. The ADA read a letter from the victim’s father in court. He was also present in the courtroom.

“The plea agreement was made with the family’s consent to serve multiple purposes, including, but not limited to, protecting the community from further harm, especially children, as well as avoiding re-traumatization of the victim,” said Rudy.

According to Rudy, if Baird had been convicted on the top charge, he could have faced 25 years to life in prison.

As the case was being handled in court, Baird was arrested again after he pled guilty, but before his sentencing last week, for contacting with the victim while he was incarcerated in violation of “stay-away” order of protection issued by the Judge Revoir, said Rudy. He was charged with an additional crime of second-degree criminal contempt.

Rudy asked the judge to enhance Baird’s sentence in response to the violation during sentencing, but the court declined, and the original terms of the plea remained in place. An order of protection was issued for the maximum time permitted under New York law. Baird will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release, likely for the rest of his life.