Jury deliberating child sex assault case

A registered sex offender admitted to watching an 8-year-old girl alone in his apartment, but denied sexually assaulting her as he took the stand Friday in his own defense during a rape trial.

Craig Turpin, 46, is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition and one count of kidnapping in connection with the alleged incidents which occurred between Nov. 16, 2012, and Jan. 1, 2013, when he lived in the same apartment complex as his accuser on Norman Avenue.

During testimony Friday, Turpin said he often watched the girl and her two brothers during that time period while their mother was away, and admitted he occasionally watched the alleged victim alone at times. However, he said he never sexually assaulted her, which is why he said Dayton police were unable to find his DNA on the victim’s underwear or at the crime scene.

“I’m not saying she’s lying, but she either has to be lying, or has me confused with someone else, because I never touched (her),” Turpin said.

Defense attorney Lucas Wilder also presented testimony from a nurse, Sarah Kramer, who said she tested Turpin for sexually-transmitted diseases when he was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and he tested positive for Nongonococcal Urethriti, or NGU. However, the victim does not have the STD. During cross-examination by Montgomery County assistant prosecutor Justin Sheridan, Kramer testified it was possible for someone to not contract NGU if fluids were not exchanged.

A jury began deliberations on the case Friday evening, but a verdict was not received prior to press time.

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