Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Ryan Reese confers with one of his attorneys during a brief break in his sex-assault trial Wednesday. Final testimony is set for this morning.

NASHUA – Closing arguments are on the horizon in the sexual assault trial of Ryan Reese, the 19-year-old Hudson man accused of initiating sex with a then-16-year-old acquaintance who prosecutors say was so intoxicated she was unable to resist or give consent to the alleged acts.

Two or three more witnesses are expected to be called to testify when the trial resumes at 10 a.m. today. Once the lawyers rest their cases, they will deliver their closing arguments, after which the judge will read the jury its instructions and send them into deliberations.

Reese is on trial on four counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, on which he was indicted in December 2018, roughly a year and a half after the party during which the alleged acts took place.

Two counts accuse him of having sex with the girl without her consent, while two others allege he committed the acts while the girl was “physically helpless” due to her level of intoxication.

Several people believed to be family members of Reese have attended the trial since it began Tuesday morning in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South.

On the other side of the courtroom, the alleged victim, a couple believed to be her parents, her sister, and three of the young woman’s friends who had testified filled the front row, where they observed the proceedings, accompanied by a victim witness advocate from the County Attorney’s office.

Wednesday’s second day of testimony included the friends, who were asked about what they saw or heard on the night in question, and whether they recall having any interaction with Reese or the alleged victim during or after the alleged underage drinking party that took place at the alleged victim’s parents’ residence.

Two police officers also testified, mainly regarding their interviews with the girl, members of her family and any other witnesses.

Assistant County Attorney Cassie Devine, who is prosecuting the case with Assistant County Attorney Michael Miller, asked one of the girl’s friends about the girl’s demeanor when she saw her the day after the party.

“She was very upset … she was crying,” the witness answered. When Devine asked her if she knew what the girl was upset about, defense attorney Timothy Goulden objected – but Judge Charles Temple overruled the objection, allowing the witness to answer the question.

“She said the last thing she remembers was Ryan pushing his crotch into her face,” the witness said.

Goulden, in cross-examining the witness, referred to a statement she had given police at the time of the incident. “You said (the alleged victim) was laughing?” Goulden said, referring to the period of time when her sister and friends were trying to sober her up.

The witness, after reading the portion of the statement, agreed, noting also that she told police when the alleged victim tried to speak, “she said nothing coherent … just gibberish.”

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