Wilmington man races retrial in sex abuse case

MEDIA COURTHOUSE » Jury selection began Tuesday for the second trial of a 44-year-old Wilmington man accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2014.

Thomas Harris is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, corruption of minors, engendering the welfare of children and related offenses for allegedly placing the girl’s hand on his penis and groping her breasts in a Lower Chichester home.

He was previously tried for the same crimes in late 2015, but the jury could not reach a verdict after deliberating for about a day and a half. Harris was acquitted on one count of open lewdness in a related case.

The alleged victim testified in the first trial that she had come home after a carnival one night, where she had been bullied about her appearance. Her mother was not home and Harris was supposed to be watching her, she said.

The girl, now 18, said Harris told her she was beautiful and commented on her body. He then had her close her eyes and put her hand on his penis over his pants, she said.

The alleged victim told Assistant District Attorney Christopher Boggs that she pulled her hand away, but Harris had her close her eyes again and again placed her hand on his exposed penis, then told her to stroke it.

The two were interrupted after a few seconds and Harris put his penis away, she said. When they were alone again, the girl said Harris persisted in touching her, including her breasts. The alleged victim said Harris also had her lie down and showed her various sexual positions by moving her legs around, then showed her a pornographic video to demonstrate how she should masturbate.

The girl said Harris told her not to tell anyone about the episode because her mother would hurt him and he would hurt the alleged victim. In another instance, she said he touched her buttocks while demonstrating how he wanted her to rub his back.

Harris denied all of the allegations when he took the stand during the first trial. He said the girl had not reacted well to having a new baby in the house and had threatened to get rid of him by lying about being abused about one month before she filed the criminal complaint.

The second trial is expected to begin this morning before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Gregory Mallon. Boggs is again prosecuting the case. Harris, who remains free on 10 percent of $100,000 cash bail, is represented by defense attorney Brian Malloy.