March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Veazie man on trial for rape described as caring father

ELLSWORTH — A defense attorney Thursday described his client, on trial for armed sexual assault and kidnapping, as a remarried father of two who “loves his children very much.

“So far, you haven’t heard a lot of good things about my client,” said attorney Patrick Larson on behalf of his client, Craig A. Eaton, 33, of Veazie. In his opening statement, which he chose to defer until the state rested its case Thursday afternoon, Larson told the jury of seven women and five men to retain open minds until all evidence and arguments have been presented.

The former Deer Isle resident is on trial for 10 counts stemming from an incident on Little Deer Isle on Oct. 13, 1993, in which Eaton allegedly assaulted an 18-year-old Blue Hill woman while keeping a gun trained on her boyfriend, forced to stand nearby.

Superior Court Justice Margaret Kravchuk said the trial will reconvene at 9 a.m. Monday, April 11, and will probably conclude that day.

The judge rejected Larson’s motion for acquittal, which the defense attorney made after the state had rested its case. The motion was based in part on Larson’s assertion that because Eaton used a condom during the alleged attack, the sexual act might not constitute direct genital contact.

The state contends that forced oral-genital contact between Eaton and the victim certainly would qualify as direct contact, and evidence suggesting that the condom had slipped or torn made it likely that direct genital contact had taken place.

According to the victim’s testimony, Eaton agreed to use a condom during the allegedly forced intercourse.

Andrea Eaton, the defendant’s ex-wife, testified Thursday regarding her knowledge of the Swain’s Cove area, where the alleged attack took place. Larson’s questioning determined that although she was near the scene of the crime just a few hours after it reportedly happened, she did not see a cap bearing the “Imperial Homes” logo that witnesses have suggested incriminates Eaton.

The cap is one of several items the prosecution said were removed from Eaton’s truck or found at the scene, and are traceable to him.

In his subsequent questioning of the woman, Hancock County District Attorney Michael Povich sought to show that the reason she had not seen the incriminating cap was because her attention was focused on finding reindeer moss, and on bottles and cans she could redeem.

(END OF FILE)


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