New Evidence Discovered in Child Predator Case

Defense attorneys for a Hampton man accused of sexually assaulting three young children over a span of two years are almost done investigating new evidence, and the trial against the man will resume on March 4, according to the Union Leader.

Leonard Aldrich, 64, formerly of 340 Lafayette Road, is on trial for three counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault and two counts of 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 Rockingham Superior Court trial was supposed to start on Dec. 11, although a judge granted a delay based on the new evidence after a jury was selected, according to the Union Leader. The paper has reported 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."