Office of the District Attorney - Maggie Fleming, District Attorney
News Release
April 19, 2016
On April 19, 2016, a jury found 45-year-old Kailan Coridon Meserve guilty of 15 felony counts, including three counts of forcible rape, six counts forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, criminal threats, two counts of sexual battery, and sexual penetration by a foreign object.
On December 26, 2013 the defendant entered a residence in Petrolia where an acquaintance was staying and found her upstairs asleep. The victim awoke with the defendant on top of her, told him no, and tried to resist. During the rape he committed various forcible sex acts against her before leaving the residence. He then returned and committed sexual acts a second time.
On November 9, 2014 after a community event in Petrolia the defendant offered a ride home to a woman he had met. Instead of taking her home, he took her to his property. Once there, Meserve took her into a trailer, raped her and committed other sex acts without her consent. During the incident, he also strangled her, threatened to kill her and told her he would freeze her body and feed her to animals.
The case was tried by Deputy District Attorney Brie Bennett, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Steve Dunn. The defendant was represented at trial by Russell Clanton.
The defendant was remanded into custody after the verdicts were read. Judge Cissna will sentence the defendant on July 1, 2016. DDA Bennett and District Attorney Maggie Fleming wish to express appreciation to the victims in the case, whose willingness to provide difficult testimony has enhanced public safety.