Nurse guilty of sex acts on quadriplegic

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MOUNT HOLLY, N.J., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A male New Jersey nurse was convicted Wednesday of performing oral sex on a quadriplegic man who is unable to speak.

Jurors spent only 90 minutes in deliberations before reaching a verdict on Steven Young, 43, of Camden, PhillyBurbs.com reported. Young, who is scheduled to be sentenced in May, faces decades in prison for aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact and invasion of privacy.

"The jury has spoken quickly and justly in this case," Burlington County prosecutor Robert Bernardi said. "Mr. Young now will face the prospect of most if not all of his adult life behind bars for his despicable acts. To borrow a line from Dante, 'The darkest places in hell are reserved' for people such as this defendant."

The victim, now 34, has been paralyzed since he was hit by a car at the age of 12. His father testified that he does not speak, although relatives try to communicate with him.

Young acknowledged the sex acts, which investigators said he recorded on his cellphone. But his lawyers said the sex was consensual.

He faces unrelated charges in Camden County involving alleged sexual misconduct with an underage girl.