NORTHAMPTON — After nearly four days of testimony, the jury in the trial for a Florence man accused of raping a young girl and indecently assaulting another is expected to begin its deliberations Tuesday, following closing arguments from attorneys.
Stanley Michalski, 31, has pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to four counts of child rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child, two counts of dissemination of harmful matter to a minor, one count each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, posing a child in a state of nudity, possession of child pornography and intimidation of a witness. Michalski remains on house arrest after previously posting $10,000 bail.
The charges stem from allegations that Michalski sexually assaulted two young girls, now 12 and 10, who were known to him though not related, between August 2013 and September 2014. The girls’ mother allowed them to share a bedroom with Michalski in his Florence Road home, according to earlier testimony.
Testimony is expected to wrap up Tuesday morning, Judge Richard Carey said in court, with one more prosecution witness left to testify in addition to any witnesses the defense calls to the stand.
Prosecution witnesses have included the two girls themselves, among others, as well as the girls’ aunt. The Gazette generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault.
On Monday, jurors heard from Northampton Detective Michael Briggs who testified that, during his initial interview with Michalski more than a year ago, the defendant admitted to inadvertently touching one of the girls’ genitals when he was helping her onto a trampoline. In the interview, according to a transcript read aloud in court by Briggs and Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Linda Pisano, Michalski maintained that nothing else transpired between him and the girls.
Under cross-examination by Michalski’s defense counsel, David Mintz, the attorney suggested the detective attempted to “coax” Michalski into providing a confession.
“You don’t know the truth,” Mintz said to Briggs, who was on the stand.
“I have probable cause to know what the truth is,” Briggs replied.
Whatever the outcome of this trial, Michalski faces additional charges in an unrelated case. In September 2015, allegations came to light that resulted in Michalski being charged with 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 new charges result from alleged assaults in Northampton between June 1, 2006 and Dec. 30, 2008, court records show.
The trial resumes Tuesday morning.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.