Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Courtney McDonell has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 11 years in prison and 12 years post-release supervision.

The defendant admitted that between on or about September 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, she attempted to engage in sexual conduct with a child victim less than 11 years old on multiple occasions at a location in the Town of Grand Island.

McDonell pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a Class “C” violent felony, on November 20, 2018.

The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender upon her release. In addition to her sentence, the judge issued an order of protection on behalf of the victim that will remain in effect until 2049.

Her co-defendant, 26-year-old Jacob Beach of Grand Island, was sentenced to a determinate sentence of 18 years in prison followed by 25 years of post-release supervision in May 2019. He pleaded guilty to one count of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree. He will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

DA Flynn commends Detectives Christian Parisi and Emily Gerken of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. DA Flynn also commends the Okaloosa Sheriff’s deputies who located the defendant in Florida as well as US Marshals James Bona and Daryl O’Shei.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.