Milton rape case from 2000 headed to jury trial

From left, John Turcotte and attorney Steven Keable today during a hearing in Strafford County Superior Court. (The Lebanon Voice photo) John Turcotte police photo, below right.

DOVER, N.H. - The case of a former Rochester man and ex-Lebanon school janitor recently indicted in the aggravated felonious sexual assault of a young girl in Milton back around 2000 will likely go to trial next summer, it was decided today at a Strafford County Superior Court hearing.

John Turcotte, 32, who formerly lived at12 Pine St., Rochester, but now resides at 393 Middle Road, Dover, was in court with his attorney Steven Keable of Dover, for a dispositional conference.

Turcotte, who worked as a janitor at Lebanon Elementary School from 2007 to April of this year, was indicted in the case in October.

Turcotte was indicted in two felony sexual assaults regarding the incident, including an aggravated-level assault alleged to have taken place between January 2000 and December 2001. The second indictment places the alleged attack between January and December of 2001.

According to assistant Strafford County Attorney Meghan Hagaman, the two separate indictments reflect differing theories and timeframe for the alleged crime.

Keable told Superior Court Judge Steven Houran that a trial would likely take two to three days. He said he would be filing motions for material kept confidential and would also likely be filing depositions.

A pretrial conference was set for June with jury selection set for July.

Turcotte faces up 11 years in state prison if convicted.

The alleged victim in the case, who is now in her late 20s, was living in Milton at the time of the alleged rape.

The case was initially brought to the attention of the County Attorney's Office by Milton Police.

Hagaman said the victim came forward some time after the alleged assault, but that the statute of limitations for a victim under the age of 18 is substantial, allowing the case to move forward.

Court documents allege Turcotte "overcame (the victim) through the application of physical force, to wit, he threw (her) on the ground in the woods" and engaged in intercourse with her.

At the time of the attack the victim in the case was between the ages of 12 and 16.

Turcotte shows a light rap sheet with Rochester Police reports showing he was arrested on a drug possession charge in February 2014.

As a second shift custodian, Turcotte was never in charge of or in a supervisory role for any students, SAD 60 Supt. Steven Connolly said, adding the school district followed state hiring requirements in hiring Turcotte and he met all requirements.