Lebanon man's trial in sex assault of young Barrington girl begins in Dover

David Shaw of Lebanon looks over at the jury during the selection process on the first day of his sexual assault trial at Strafford County Superior Court in Dover. (Rochester Voice photos)

DOVER - Perhaps tipping her hand to a possible trial scenario, the defense lawyer for a Lebanon man accused of sexually assaulting a youngster on a bunkbed inside her Barrington home asked prospective jurors on Tuesday why an innocent man might decline taking the stand in his own defense.

"Maybe because he's nervous," answered one.

"He doesn't speak well," offered another.

It was the first day in the trial of David A. Shaw, 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, which occurred in Barrington between August 2015 and August 2016.

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

Tuesday was supposed to comprise jury selection and opening arguments, but a prolonged jury selection process led Superior Court Judge Steven M. Houran to let jurors go home around 2:30 p.m. to allow for opening arguments today. The trial is expected to wrap up later this week.

During jury selection prosecutor Tim Sullivan apprised prospective jurors that in a case like this there need not be corroborating evidence to a child's testimony to find a defendant guilty.

According to state law, he said, if a juror finds the child's testimony from the stand credible that is weight enough for a guilty verdict.

"This happens in the privacy of bedroom, in this case on a bunkbed, by someone trusting," Sullivan said.

Meanwhile, defense attorney Sarah G. Landres told the jury pool that this is a case of a man who is accused by his girlfriend's daughter of sex assault. She also noted the case involved a child with disabilities, and asked jurors if they knew "when to be critical of what a child says."

As Landres wrapped up her interview with jurors, she asked if they "looked at (the defendant) and said he is probably guilty."

Assistant County Attorney Tim Sullivan, left, and defense attorney Sarah Landres, second from left, among those poring over juror list prior to final selection as defendant David A. Shaw looks on Tuesday at Strafford County Superior Court in Dover.

One raised her hand.

Around 1:30 p.m. defense and prosecution ended their interviews with the jury pool and then began sorting out whether either side had significant concerns with the 12 jurors and two alternates already seated.

After one female juror asked to be excused and was allowed to leave, some 20 alternate jurors who were also seated in the courtroom were queried by Houran and added to the pool.

The defense and prosecution then huddled to the side of the courtroom to discuss whom they wanted to exclude.

About 20 minutes later the clerk called off several names to replace those on the original jury who had been excused and jury selection was complete.

The parent of the alleged victim, who is not being identified by The Rochester Voice for privacy concerns, lives in Barrington and said they met Shaw in August of 2015 and became "a couple" living together in February of 2016.

The parent also noted that Shaw's son and daughter often came over when he had visitations with them.

Shaw faces up to 30 years to life in prison if convicted on any of the charges.