James Cook convicted of drugs, assault

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island man has been convicted of sexual assault and drug charges.

A jury in Kent County Superior Court deliberated for several hours over two days before finding James Cook guilty of all 22 counts he faced.

The 46-year-old Cook faced charges including bestiality, selling drugs to his niece and sexually assaulting a man authorities allege was physically helpless, unconscious and unable to consent.

Cook's defense lawyer, Robert Craven, told jurors that that the main prosecution witnesses -- Cook's niece and the alleged assault victim -- were not credible.

Attorney General Patrick Lynch called Cook an "amoral com man and conniver" who committed "monstrous" crimes.

Cook has been held without bail since his arrest in June 2008.