
© AP Photo/Delaware State Police, FileMelvin L. Morse is seen in an undated file photo provided by the Delaware State Police. Morse will resume testifying Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in his trial on endangerment and assault charges. The former pediatrician is accused of waterboarding his longtime companion's daughter by holding the girl's head under a faucet.
Georgetown - A pediatrician known for his research on paranormal science and near-death experiences with children was convicted Thursday of waterboarding the daughter of his longtime companion by holding her head under a faucet.
The jury deliberated for about six hours before returning its verdict against Melvin Morse, 60.
Morse was charged with three felonies - two for alleged waterboarding and one for alleged suffocation by hand. He was convicted of one felony - waterboarding in the bathtub - and five misdemeanors. Jurors reduced the second waterboarding charge to a misdemeanor and acquitted Morse of the suffocation charge.
Morse showed no reaction as the verdict was read. He was ordered to surrender his passport and will remain out on bail until his sentencing, set for April 11.
Morse faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, but a lesser punishment is likely under state sentencing guidelines. Each misdemeanor carries a maximum of one year in prison but typically results in probation. The felony reckless endangerment conviction for waterboarding carries a maximum of five years in prison but a presumptive sentence of 15 months.
Prosecutor Melanie Withers said she was "very gratified" by the verdict, and that she was on her way to speak with the victim, now 12 years old.
Morse declined to comment and referred questions to his attorneys.
"He maintains his innocence to this day," said attorney John Brady.
Morse's lead defense attorney, Joseph Hurley, said he planned to appeal.
The girl and her mother, Pauline Morse, testified that Melvin Morse used waterboarding as a threat or a form of punishment. Waterboarding has been used in the past by U.S. interrogators on terror suspects to simulate drowning. Many critics call it torture.
Defense attorneys argued that "waterboarding" was a term jokingly used to describe hair washing the girl did not like.
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