Harford Co. Man Gave Teen Alcohol, Raped Her In His Home: Prosecutor

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A 40-year-old Forest Hill man has been convicted of rape, sexual offense and other charges after police say he lured a 16-year-old girl into his home, gave her alcohol then sexually assaulted her.

Steven Jay Friedman was convicted of second-degree rape, sexual offense in the third degree, second-degree assault and furnishing for or allowing underage consumption following a bench trial in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

The victim testified during the trial that she regularly walks around her neighborhood and on Feb. 18, 2022, she was approached at around 5 p.m. by Friedman. He told her he'd been watching her take walks and thought she was "very attractive." Friedman then invited her into his home and gave her alcohol, she testified.

According to court documents, the victim became too intoxicated to defend herself from Friedman who reached under her shirt and bra and touched her. She attempted to resist, she said, but Friedman overpowered her and performed oral sex on her then digitally penetrated her without her consent, she said.

During the incident, Friedman’s family came home and he spoke with them before escorting the victim out of the residence undetected. The victim preserved video evidence of Friedman providing her alcohol and confirming the sexual contact.

Friedman was interviewed by members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigative Division and admitted to providing the victim alcohol and to the sexual contact.

Friedman faces up to 20 years of prison.

“The conviction of Steven Friedman for this heinous and predatory crime gives the victim of this case closure to a difficult chapter that no individual deserves and especially not a child. We will be seeking a maximum sentence to ensure this sexual predator is removed from our community for the protection of other children and our citizens. I commend the victim and her family for reporting the assault and for the bravery she exhibited by testifying at trial," State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey said.