Molestation trial under way in Mahoning County

YOUNGSTOWN — A 34-year-old city man is on trial on three counts of rape and four counts of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, and he faces a potential life sentence if he’s convicted of any of the rape charges.

Vernon Morgan, of West Dennick Avenue, went on trial today before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Morgan is charged with compelling a 10-year-old girl to engage in sexual conduct with him by force or threat of force while he showed her pornographic videos between June 1 and July 29, 2006, in his residence.

J. Michael Thompson, assistant county prosecutor, told jurors in his opening statement that they will hear testimony from a county Children Services caseworker and two officials of the Tri-County Child Advocacy Center that the girl told them Morgan had enaged in sexual activity with her.