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Victim in rape case testifies against relative
By Justin Wier
YOUNGSTOWN
A man accused of raping a 12-year-old relative said he drank too much and didn’t remember what happened, the victim’s mother testified.
Eric Damore, 44, of Boardman faces charges of rape and gross sexual imposition. If convicted, he could receive a life prison sentence.
The trial resumes this morning in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court with Judge Anthony M. D’Apolito presiding.
The alleged events are said to have taken place when the victim spent the night at Damore’s house in October 2014.
The victim’s mother testified Wednesday that Damore said he doesn’t know why the victim would make something like that up, but he also doesn’t know why he would do something like that.
He consumed four beers over the course of the evening, his attorney said.
The girl, who is now 15, testified when she spent the night at Damore’s house he pulled her pants down and touched her private parts with his hands and mouth.
She asked him to stop several times, she said. He also asked her to put her mouth on his private parts, and she said no.
After the incident, “he said he should go to jail, and my mom shouldn’t like him anymore,” the victim said.
The victim’s mother testified Damore and her daughter were very close. “She adored him,” she said.
The mother said she immediately knew something was wrong when she picked her daughter up from Damore’s house, and her daughter was stuttering, a sign that she was nervous.
The victim has developmental disabilities and autism.
Under cross-examination, the mother said her daughter has heard voices telling her to do bad things and she has made things up in the past.
The victim testified she used to make things up to surprise people, but she would tell them shortly after that she made something up. She further testified she did not make up the allegations against Damore.
An assistant county prosecutor said it’s a simple case.
“The defendant raped a 12-year-old little girl,” Steven Yacavone said.
Damore drew on the trust the girl had for him. “This defendant used that trust to gratify a horrible sexual desire,” Yacavone said.
Defense attorney John Juhasz said prosecutors have a one-witness case, and the alleged victim is a troubled young girl with many deficiencies and health problems.
There is no physical or forensic evidence a crime was committed, Juhasz added.
“This guy is on trial for his life, his reputation and his liberty,” Juhasz said.
He will ask for the verdict that “will end the nightmare that began for Eric in October 2014,” he said.