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Jury seated in Hanscom rape case

Testimony to begin May 23

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Writer | May 17, 2018

Nashua police photo Christopher Hanscom, age 35, of 2B Boyd Road, Hudson

NASHUA – The jury is seated and the lawyers in the Christopher Hanscom sexual-assault trial are preparing their opening statements, which they are scheduled to deliver when the trial gets underway on May 23.

Hanscom, 34, of 2B Boyd Road in Hudson, will be tried on two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, which are classified as extended-term felonies, and six counts of simple assault, Class A misdemeanors.

The felony charges stem from allegations that Hanscom, in early February 2017, physically forced an adult female to have sex with him, allegedly despite her telling him “no,” according to court documents.

The misdemeanors accuse Hanscom of grabbing the woman’s hair on two occasions, twice pushing her onto a couch, forcibly kissing her and grabbing her hips, the charges state.

Nashua police said the alleged incidents were reported several days after they occurred. The day after police received the report, Nashua detectives, with the assistance of Hudson police, located Hanscom at his residence and took him into custody.

He was initially charged with one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault, but following their investigation filed the second count of AFSA and the misdemeanor offenses, police said.

The grand jury for Hillsborough County Superior Court South’s June term handed up the two felony indictments and six information counts against Hanscom.

They collectively accuse Hanscom of “engaging in sexual penetration with an adult female through the application of physical force or violence or superior strength, and without the free consent of the alleged victim … for grabbing the victim’s hair, pushing her down on a couch, kissing her and grabbing her hips …,” the indictments state.

Court officials have set aside three days, May 23-25, for the trial.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.

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