FARMINGTON — A New Sharon man accused of sexually assaulting a boy over a period of 11 years went on trial Tuesday.

Paul  Tracy, 45, faces 11 counts of gross sexual assault and 11 counts of unlawful sexual contact. The alleged incidents occurred from 1997 to 2007 in Industry, according to court records.

Thirteen jurors listened to testimony from five witnesses and were shown evidence by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson in Franklin County Superior Court.

The boy told the court he was sexually abused by Tracy and was ashamed to come forward.

Tracy’s attorney, Walter McKee, said the boy didn’t come forward with the information until an incident happened that the boy didn’t like. And when he did come forward, he did not give all of the information until this year, McKee said. The boy then told a parent and the story continued to grow, McKee said.

The boy’s mother testified that she did not know about the abuse until he told her. When she confronted Tracy about the molestation he said he never meant to hurt her child, she said.

State police Detective Bryant Jacques testified that he bagged up the evidence the state displayed, which was found under the bed, in drawers and in a closet in a room that belonged to Tracy.

The trial will continue Tuesday with testimony from employees of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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