Lebanon man found guilty of child sex abuse openly weeps after verdict

A Sheriff's deputy places David Shaw of Lebanon in handcuffs just minutes after he was found guilty of aggravated felonious sexual assault at Strafford County Superior Court on Wednesday. (Rochester Voice photos)

DOVER - After a stoic few minutes following his being found guilty of felonious sexual assault on a young girl, David A. Shaw of Lebanon, Maine, looked down, couched his head in his hands and softly wept.

It was the first time during the countless hearings prior to trial and trial, itself, that he had shown any emotion.

As his defense attorneys sought to comfort him with words of solace and a glass of water, there was no comfort to be had.

"As you know bail is not an option," Strafford County Superior Court Judge Steven M. Houran said softly as two Strafford County Sheriff's Deputies moved in to the defense table to deftly place restraints on Shaw for his short transport to Strafford County Jail a few hundred yards away.

David Shaw weeps a few minutes after he was found guilty as one of his defense attorneys, Sarah Landres, sits by his side and tries to comfort him.

Shaw will stay at the jail until his sentencing, which could be several weeks to even months away.

The courtroom was more packed than ever during the trial as other prosecutors and court personnel flocked in to listen to the jury's verdict.

After each count, the foreman would announce the verdict and then Judge Houran would ask the jury collectively whether that was their verdict to which they would reply a resounding, "Yes."

The most serious charges Shaw was found guilty of were having the girl perform oral sex on him and him performing oral sex on her, both aggravated felonious sexual assault, known as special felonies, punishable by 25 years to life in prison.

Another charge he was found guilty of was having the victim touch his penis, a felonious sex assault punishable by 10-30 years.

The lone charge he was found not guilty of was a count accusing him of having her touch his penis a second time.

After Shaw was escorted from the courtroom to a secure elevator used only for prisoner transport, the courtroom cleared quickly and in silence, with few available for comment, including Shaw's former wife, who is the mother of Shaw's two children.

Defense lawyers reacted grimly with no comments as well.

Judge Houran noted that the prosecution and defense lawyers will be back in court soon for a presentencing hearing that could last up to two hours.

A date for sentencing has not been set.