NORTHAMPTON — Opening statements are expected begin either Tuesday or Wednesday in the trial for a Florence man accused of child rape after jury selection that began Monday Hampshire Superior Court concludes.
Stanley Michalski, 31, has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated rape and abuse of a child, posing a child in a nude or lascivious state, possession of child pornography, indecent assault and battery on a child younger than 14, distributing obscene matter to a minor and witness intimidation.
Court staff said Monday 14 jurors will be empanelled. So far, 10 have been selected. The selection process resumes Tuesday morning.
Michalski previously posted $10,000 bail and remains on house arrest. David Mintz, of Northampton, is defending Michalski. Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Linda Pisano is the lead prosecutor.
Michalski was arrested May 5, 2015 and charged in Northampton District Court before he was indicted in Superior Court. According to court documents, two girls who knew Michalski reported they were raped and assaulted in Northampton between Aug. 1, 2013, and Sept. 24, 2014.
One of the girls told police that Michalski took photos of her on his cellphone, and the other said he threw a Jenga block and other things at her for fun.
Following Michalski’s initial arraignment in July 2015, however, prosecutors said in September of that year that even more alleged victims came forward saying Michalski abused them.
These revelations resulted in a charge of forcible rape of a child, two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under 14, open and gross lewdness, and intimidation of a witness.
The most recent slew of charges, to which he also pleaded not guilty, stem from alleged assaults in Northampton between June 1, 2006 and Dec. 30, 2008, court records show.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com