Girl, now 11, expected to take stand in gift card for sexual favor trial

Jeremy Brooks leaves the courtroom during p in his trial on Wednesday (Rochester Voice photo)

DOVER - The trial of a Rochester man accused of asking sexual favors from an eight-year-old girl in exchange for an X-Box gift card began on Wednesday in Strafford Supreior Court with lawyers on both sides agreeing on just one thing: that the outcome of the trial hinges on the credibility of the alleged victim, now 11, who is expected to take the stand.
Jeremy Brooks, 31, with a last known address of Perimeter Drive, showed no nervousness or emotion as he strode into the court in a suit and tie while carrying an armful of folders.
He is charged with attempted felonious sexual assault and trafficking for sex with a victim under 18.
During Wednesday's opening statements Assistant Strafford County Attorney Hannah Ward said Brooks befriended the girl's parents who were having marital issues, and eventually offered to take the eight-year-old out for a shopping trip to cheer her up.
He took her to a Dairy Queen and Target where he bought her a dress that the prosecution said looked more like lingerie with see-thru material at the top, and that he went into her dressing room to see how she looked in it.
He later kissed her and offered her an X-Box gift card if he could touch her vagina, according to court documents.
"When he offered to take her shopping he made a situation where he would have her alone with him," said Ward. "If you find the girl's testimony credible you have to find him guilty."
It was several months after that the girl told her mom about the incident. She immediately called Rochester Police.
According to the defense, however, Brooks was just trying to help a family out that were "vulnerable with a troubled marriage and a mom with health issues."
They painted the girl as a precocious youngster who "heard adults talk about things like sex assault and internalized it," said defense attorney Erica Tracewell.
After police got involved in the investigation and after a parade of interviews, the girl had been "subjected to adult influencers," Tracewell added.
Brooks faces up to 40 years in state prison if convicted on both counts.
The trial was expected to continue today and finish on Friday, but the dismissal of a juror is expected to delay the restart of the trial till Monday.