Home » News » Crime
January 30. 2013 9:55PM
ALDRICH
BRENTWOOD - The trial of a Hampton man who has been accused of sexually assaulting three children is set to resume in March in the wake of defense lawyers discovering new evidence after a jury was selected last month.
Leonard Aldrich, 64, faces three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault and two counts of felonious sexual assault for allegedly abusing the children between December 2010 and January 2012. Aldrich's trial was about to begin the week of Dec. 11 in Rockingham County Superior Court for all three alleged assaults when he asked for more time to review "recently discovered information that he claimed required further investigation," according to a court order.
Judge Marguerite Wageling denied that request and moved forward with jury selection, but then agreed to review confidential records obtained by defense lawyer Patrick Fleming.
A review of those sealed records prompted Wageling to allow the defense the extension they requested, according to the order.
Hampton police arrested Aldrich last Jan. 29 after the children's mother reported to police that she walked in on the 64-year-old molesting two of the girls, then aged 6 and 2. Police later charged Aldrich with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy between December 2010 and December 2011.
Only one of the three children - the boy, now 7 - is expected to testify after prosecutors deemed the two girls were not competent enough to give testimony in light of their age and ability to recall events.
Prosecutors had learned on Dec. 5 that the older of the two girls was not competent to testify after saying she did not remember what happened and could not provide a narrative of the events. In the months leading up to trial, prosecutors and defense lawyers have been sparring over what testimony will be allowed at trial.
Aldrich is being held at the Rockingham County jail. He could face decades in prison if he is found guilty to a jury. The trial is scheduled to begin March 4.
jkimble@newstote.com
Sex assault trial set to resume for Hampton man
ALDRICH
Leonard Aldrich, 64, faces three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault and two counts of felonious sexual assault for allegedly abusing the children between December 2010 and January 2012. Aldrich's trial was about to begin the week of Dec. 11 in Rockingham County Superior Court for all three alleged assaults when he asked for more time to review "recently discovered information that he claimed required further investigation," according to a court order.
Judge Marguerite Wageling denied that request and moved forward with jury selection, but then agreed to review confidential records obtained by defense lawyer Patrick Fleming.
A review of those sealed records prompted Wageling to allow the defense the extension they requested, according to the order.
Hampton police arrested Aldrich last Jan. 29 after the children's mother reported to police that she walked in on the 64-year-old molesting two of the girls, then aged 6 and 2. Police later charged Aldrich with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy between December 2010 and December 2011.
Only one of the three children - the boy, now 7 - is expected to testify after prosecutors deemed the two girls were not competent enough to give testimony in light of their age and ability to recall events.
Prosecutors had learned on Dec. 5 that the older of the two girls was not competent to testify after saying she did not remember what happened and could not provide a narrative of the events. In the months leading up to trial, prosecutors and defense lawyers have been sparring over what testimony will be allowed at trial.
Aldrich is being held at the Rockingham County jail. He could face decades in prison if he is found guilty to a jury. The trial is scheduled to begin March 4.
jkimble@newstote.com
- Fremont man returned to face NH charges - 0
- 4 arrested in investigation of heroin sales in Portsmouth - 0
- AG says Belmont murder victims were mother and son, found hacked to death - 2
- Ossipee man charged with stealing guns, chainsaw - 0
- Fourth person arrested in Hollis home invasion - 0
- Two found dead in Belmont; one man detained as part of investigation - 3
- Police say man detained as part of investigation into death scene in Belmont - 1
- Portsmouth drug raid nets four arrests for sale of heroin - 0
- Manchester Market clerk robbed by man armed with knife - 1
Mont Vernon murder mastermind drops appeal, citing 'personal and moral' reasons
READER COMMENTS: 0- Garry Rayno's State House Dome: Will House, Senate continue the feud? - 0
- Ted Siefer's City Hall: City down to the wire on school budget, superintendent - 0
- Service planned for mother of Newtown school shooter - 0
- ENH Power parent firm accused of false advertising - 0
- Soldier from Pelham remembered for self-sacrifice - 0
- New Hampshire energy suppliers announce new alliance - 0
- Ian Clark's On Hockey: Are B's destiny's darlings? - 0
- Dave D'Onofrio's Sox Beat: Lackey's performance key for Sox - 0
- Bins for clothing, book donations may get identifiers of for-profit owner - 0
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Sans dice, how will Hassan roll now?
READER COMMENTS: 0| Follow us: | ||
 |
 |
 |
- Should applicants for jobless benefits have to pass a drug test?
- Yes
- 78%
- No
- 22%
- Total Votes: 1424