Harford County Girl Targeted In Sex Abuse While Watching Movie, Suspect Convicted

HARFORD COUNTY, MD —A 51-year-old Middle River man has been convicted in connection to the sexual abuse of a Harford County child.

On Sept. 25, 2019, a 12-year-old girl was found by her mother and sister crying and upset in the basement of their Edgewood home. The 12-year-old girl told them that while she was watching a movie with her sister and the 51-year-old man, Marvin Scriven, he adjusted himself so that his private parts were hanging out of the bottom of his basketball shorts and visible to the 12-year-old girl, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

Three times Scriven pulled the 12-year-old girl's hand toward his private parts, forcing her to touch him, despite her attempting to pull her hand away. The Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office shared during the two-day jury trial that Scriven gave several inconsistent statements to police when describing what happened between him and the child.

Scriven faces up to 10 years for the count of third-degree sex offense and 25 years for the count of sexual abuse of a minor. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5.