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A jury in Lawrence County has found a Raytown man guilty of multiple sex offenses involving his step-sons,

It took that jury about an hour and forty minutes to find Sam Cobb Jr., 54, guilty of ten counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree.

Lawrence County Prosecutor Robert "Bob" George says that the victims began living with their mother Sharon Atkeson and Cobb, following the death of their father in 1995. One of the boys was removed from the house in November, 1997 for physical abuse. The second victim was removed from the home in January 1998.

In a news release George says, "this defendant and the victim’s mother prayed (sic) on these victims for over a year, using the young boys as sex objects. In addition to sexual abuse, the defendant struck the boys and at one time held a rifle to one of the boys head and pulled the trigger. After hearing the gun click Cobb said to the boy.. "See I can kill you that easily if you ever tell anyone."

George says that Cobb told one of the boys, "he had killed their father and he could the boys, their mother, and grandparents and get away with it.

One of the boys was removed from the house in November, 1997 for physical abuse. The second victim was removed in January 1998. They were placed in foster care for about a year before being placed with their paternal grandparents.

The brothers kept their secret until 2005 . It was then that authorities started investigating the youngest brother for sexually abusing a cousin of his. George says, "when they asked him why he was doing it, he told them that is what he was taught to do."

Sharon Atkeson (a.) was convicted in 2006 of twelve counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of incest for the sexual and physical abuse of her sons. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

"This was a very emotional case for the two victims. I hope with this conviction there will be some closure. The jury was very attentive and did an excellent job of considering all the facts before reaching their verdicts," George said.

Ssentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2009.

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