NORTHAMPTON — With a jury of 14 empaneled, the trial for a former Easthampton man facing statuatory rape charges is expected to begin Friday morning with the attorneys’ opening statements.
Kevin Paulin will be tried on two counts of statutory rape of a child and four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older. In July 2015, he pleaded not guilty to the charges in Hampshire Superior Court. Paulin was indicted on the charges a month prior and summoned to court.
Five of the alleged incidents took place in Easthampton between August 2008 and September 2010, court records show, and involved a child who was then between 12 and 16. The other alleged assault occurred in Belchertown between September 2010 and January 2011.
Paulin, at one point, resided in both towns. The Palmer resident remains free on personal recognizance but is not permitted to have unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 16, except his biological son, whom he may not discuss the case with, per release conditions.
Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Jayme Parent is prosecuting the case while Korrina Burnham, of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, is representing Paulin.
The superior court trial is slated to begin 9 a.m. Friday.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.