Man sentenced to 47 years in prison for kidnapping child

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Ballston Spa man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping a child in September was sentenced to 47 years to life in prison. Craig Ross was sentenced on the charges of kidnapping and predatory sexual assault against a child.

Ross plead guilty to the charges in February. He admitted to kidnapping the young girl on September 30 as she rode her bike around a trail at Moreau Lake State Park. Her disappearance prompted an AMBER Alert that lasted two days and drew national coverage.

In court Wednesday, her uncle read statements from several family members.

“What kind of a person wakes up in the morning and decides they’re going to steal someone’s kid? What kind of a monster does that? You, Craig Ross, you did that. You probably thought it was going to be easy to get away with, look at me, does it look easy now”

But first, the girl, whose family wants to be referred to as a survivor, wrote a statement to her kidnapper, which was read by the prosecutor.

“You were haunting my thoughts, but now, I will be haunting yours," the prosecutor read. "Eventually, I might forget you, but you won’t forget me. You will never be able to affect anyone again.”

Ross was immediately led out of court to begin his sentence. A 100-year order of protection was also issued for the victim.

The survivor in this case wants to grow up to be a therapist and help others.