Crummel Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison
A Newport Beach man facing murder charges in the 1979 disappearance of a Costa Mesa boy was sentenced Friday to 60 years to life in prison for molesting a teen who lived at a home for troubled youth.
James Crummel, 55, was convicted March 17 on two counts of oral copulation with a 16-year-old patient of Crummel’s roommate, former psychiatrist Burnell Forgey.
Forgey, 82, pleaded guilty in July to five counts of oral copulation.
Judge Frank Fasel sentenced Crummel to 25 years to life on each count, stacked the sentences, then added 10 years under the “three strikes” law because he has two previous convictions.
Prosecutors said Crummel accompanied Forgey on his rounds to group homes to treat young patients. In December 1994, they said, Forgey invited the boy to his condominium, where both Forgey and Crummel molested him. The molestation went on until June 1995.
Crummel now will be transported to Riverside County, where he is charged with the death of 13-year-old James Trotter of Costa Mesa, who disappeared on his way to school.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
