ANDERSON — A Madison County jury today will weigh dramatically different testimony — that of a boy who Wednesday said he was molested, and that of the accused, who took the stand to deny the child’s accusations.
Bradley K. Stewart, 35, of Markleville, faces a single count of child molestation. Charges against him were filed in May 2008, when he was accused of engaging in oral sex years earlier with a boy who was 4 years old at the time.
The child testified about events alleged to have taken place in Stewart’s trailer between November and December 2005. The alleged acts were reported to authorities after the child disclosed to a baby sitter what he called “a secret” he shared with Stewart, who had been a friend of the child’s mother.
Stewart was called as the trial’s final witness.
“I want my side to come out,” Stewart testified under questioning from his attorney, Jeff Lockwood. “I’ve been silent and had to keep this to myself for a year and a half going through such a traumatic experience.
“I did not do it,” Stewart said.
The defense has suggested that the child may be confused about who molested him, and Wednesday a woman testified that she had given the child oral sex at a church. She tearfully testified later that she loved Stewart.
Deputy Prosecutor Rudolph Pyle III suggested that Stewart could have given his side of the story but refused to provide a statement to a Madison County sheriff’s deputy investigating the case.
Pyle also ridiculed the defense assertion that the child could have mistaken another person for Stewart.
“You had a year and a half to come up with that story,” Pyle said as he cross-examined Stewart.
Closing arguments are scheduled today before Judge Dennis Carroll in Madison Superior Court I. The jury will begin deliberations afterward.
If convicted, Stewart faces a possible sentence of 20 to 50 years in prison.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford @heraldbulletin.com
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