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LISBON -- Jurors began hearing evidence Monday in the case against a West Virginia man accused of sexually assaulting a child victim beginning when she was 10 years old.
Stetson Yost, 34, Chester, W.Va., appeared with his defense attorney Paul Conn while the state was represented by Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutors Steve Yacovone and Tammie Riley Jones.
Yost was indicted in January 2023 by the county grand jury for first-degree felony rape and third-degree felony gross sexual imposition for the alleged conduct and contact with the child, which occurred from April 3, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2019 beginning when the child was 10 years old.
The day began with jury selection before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam, who is presiding over the trial.
During opening statements, both Jones and Conn gave their overviews of the case and what they thought the evidence would show, with Jones describing a child victim who was afraid of the defendant and reluctant to tell what happened at first, while Conn described a defiant girl and a man who said he didn't do anything.
Jones went into great detail about the allegations against Yost and about letters he wrote in which he allegedly said he had bad thoughts and that "some actions can't be taken back or forgiven."
She told jurors that he can be held accountable for those actions.
She explained how sexual assault cases are different from other criminal cases, with various agencies working together collaboratively to investigate these types of cases, including Children Services, law enforcement and the Child Advocacy Center through Akron Children's Hospital. She called it a multi-disciplinary approach.
She also explained how there's rarely any physical evidence in these types of cases, noting victims don't always tell initially.
Witnesses will include people with extensive knowledge when it comes to investigating child sexual assaults.
Jones relayed that once he was confronted, the defendant lied. He had taken pictures of the victim and was questioned about that.
"He knew in April 2020 that his actions were no longer a secret," she said.
Jones also touched again on the letters he wrote, saying the one letter corroborates the victim's account of what happened.
Conn talked about his client and the victim and said the last time he saw her, she didn't want him there, "not because he did anything to her, but because she was mad at him."
When confronted, he said he didn't do anything. He wrote the letters and Conn said his client will explain what he meant in those letters.
As for the testimony from the officials from the Child Advocacy Center, he told jurors what that witness believes isn't relevant. He said what the jurors hear in evidence from both sides is what they have to base their verdict on.
The trial is expected to continue today.