Graphic Child Sex Abuse Trial Begins Today

Rockingham Superior Court staff say the felony trial for a Hampton man accused of sexually assaulting three young children over a span of two years will begin at 10 this morning and continue through Thursday.

Jury selected was completed Monday in the trial against Leonard Aldrich, 64, a man who used to live at 340 Lafayette Road and is facing three counts of felonious sexual assault and one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault.

Aldrich allegedly abused a 6-year-old boy between December 2010 and December 2011 and abused two sisters — one 6 years old, the other 2 years old — on Jan. 29, 2012.

The male victim, who is now 7 years old, is expected to testify during the trial. Indictment paperwork has previously indicated Aldrich, who faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted, allegedly touched the boy's "buttocks with his tongue under circumstances that can be reasonably construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification."

The Rockingham Superior Court trial was supposed to start on Dec. 11, although a judge granted a delay based on the new evidence.