The trial for a Hutchinson man in a child sex case is expected to begin with jury selection on Tuesday. The case against Henry Davidson was scheduled to go to trial a couple of months ago but was continued because of a winter storm.
Davidson is accused of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy for allegedly molesting the 10-year daughter of a Hutchinson woman he was living with. The sexual abuse is alleged to have been going on in a time range of August of 2006 through part of 2012.
The victim alleges she was tied up with string when the inappropriate sexual encounters occurred. She alleges that it would occur as much as once a week. She couldn’t give an exact number but alleges it happened more then 10-times, this at a home in Hutchinson. The child, now 11 also alleges that he took pictures of her with his cell phone.
Both the state and the defense were in court Monday morning to argue before the judge on whether some items should be excluded at trial including other bad acts in Nebraska. Others requested to be cut out by the defense was adult pornography he had. But the state argued that he had shown those pictures to the victim. Judge Tim Chambers ruled that the prior bad acts evidence is admissible as well a photo taken of the child found on the defendants phone. The other adult porn would be allowed at this point, but Judge Chambers said he would allow the defense to object during trial and they could take up the matter again at that time.
The charges against Davidson do fall under Jessica’s Law meaning if convicted, he could be sentenced to multiple counts of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25-years.
The trial is expected to last a couple of days.