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Alleged victim said accused let her play on computer in exchange for sex favors

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Defense attorney confers with her client, accused rapist David A. Shaw, during a break in testimony at Strafford County Superior Court on Wednesday. (Rochester Voice photo)

DOVER - The alleged child victim in a lurid rape trial playing out in Strafford County Superior Court this week told a jury on Wednesday that the Lebanon man accused in her abuse would let her play computer games in exchange for performing sex acts on him.

It was the second day in the trial of David A. Shaw, 48, of 294 Lower Guinea Road, Lebanon, Maine, who is accused of engaging in a pattern of sexual abuse of the child, who was around 8 at the time of the alleged incidents, said to have occurred in her Barrington home between August 2015 and August 2016.

That pattern, according to court documents and statements, included rape and touching of sex organs.

Under direct examination by Assistant County Attorney Tim Sullivan, the young girl, now around the age of 10, said the abuse began after her mom refused to tuck her in one night, so her live-in boyfriend, Shaw offered to do so.

Sometime during that evening, "He said if I licked his penis, he would let me play on the computer," she said calmly as she sat in the witness box accompanied by her service dog, a golden retriever named Daisy.

The alleged victim, who said Shaw performed cunnilingus on her as well, said the abuse occurred in her bottom bunkbed as her younger sister slept in the top bunk.

The girl, who is in the fifth grade now, said she initially didn't tell her mom because Shaw was an adult and she knew he would get in trouble.

She also testified that the abuse occurred more than once, but couldn't remember how often.

She said when she told her mom she still didn't necessarily want Shaw to get in trouble.

"Why didn't you tell your mom earlier," Sullivan asked.

"I don't know, I can't remember," she said.

Under cross-examination, defense attorney Sarah G. Landres centered her short time questioning the girl about the time when she finally did tell her mom.

"The first time you told your mom, (your younger sister) was in the car, right?"

"I don't remember," she said.

Landres then offered her a transcript of the conversation she had had with investigators.

After looking it over, the girl said that yes, her younger sister had been in the car.

Earlier during opening arguments, Landres told the jury that the younger sister did not corroborate any of the actions the victim alleged and that when a youngster makes an accusation of sexual assault by an adult, the authorities are trained to protect the alleged victim and aggressively move to prosecute the victim, until his trial.

"This will be the first time (the alleged victim's) story will be challenged," Landres told jurors.

Shaw faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The trial continues today at Strafford County Superior Court and is expected to wrap up this week.

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