Trial begins for man accused of rape

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XENIA — The trial for a Dayton man accused of rape began in Greene County Common Pleas Court Aug. 21.

Steven Blackson, 40, was charged with two counts of rape, a first-degree felony, and one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, after a juvenile victim came forward about the alleged events. Blackson was arrested in January 2017 and has been held since in the Greene County Jail with a $100,000 bond.

Allegedly, the incidents happened over a span of five years, beginning in 2010. The female victim was under 13 when the alleged abuse started.

During opening statements, assistant prosecutor Nicole Burke detailed the three alleged incidents to the jury, which she said happened in Fairborn and Dayton.

“It’s the state’s position that after you hear all of the evidence … you will come to one conclusion that he is guilty … ,” Burke said. She and assistant prosecutor Cheri Stout are working on the case together.

Defense attorney Christ Theodor followed, presenting his own arguments.

“This is mostly a case of ‘he said-she said’. There’s no forensic evidence, no DNA, no blood or bodily fluids, no fingerprints, no photos of any kind, no witnesses except for [one] who supposedly saw … ,” Theodor said to the jury.

The trial proceeded as Beavercreek Police Department Captain Chad Lindsey — also a certified polygraphist — took the witness stand.

According to Lindsey, Blackson failed a polygraph examination that Lindsey administered at the police department. Lindsey said that during the exam, he asked the defendant three times — in different questions — if he committed the crimes. Blackson answered “no” to each, according to Lindsey.

“Deception was indicated, which means that he failed the exam and was lying,” Lindsey told Stout, citing a report that noted a 97.6 percent probability of deception.

Theodor cross-examined the witness next, asking him about the defendant’s demeanor during the exam. Lindsey confirmed that Blackson had become emotional and had cried before testing was complete.

Judge Stephen Wolaver advised the jury not to use the polygraph examination results as evidence alone to prove the defendant guilty or not guilty.

Testimony continued as the juvenile victim quietly spoke about her relationship with the abuser and the alleged events that took place over the years.

She testified that she eventually told a school counselor and later, the police.

“I was scared,” she said, when asked why she didn’t report the abuse earlier.

The defense has not yet called witnesses to the stand. Testimony continues 9 a.m. Aug, 22 in Wolaver’s courtroom.

By Anna Bolton

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Contact Anna Bolton at 937-502-4498.

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