NASHUA – The jury selection process got underway Monday afternoon for what will be the first of three jury trials for Bruce Hanson, the Nashua man accused of a variety of offenses accusing him of sexual assault, sex-trafficking and prostitution offenses.

Hanson’s case summary indicates the trial itself could begin later this week, or on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

A judge’s order filed several months ago granted Hanson his request to sever the charges, meaning to separate certain charges into two or more groups to be addressed individually.

In this case, Hanson, who is represented by Nashua attorney Eric Wilson, had motioned the court to separate his 11 charges into three groups, each of which involves one of the three alleged victims.

Hanson will first be tried on two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, special felonies that accuse him of engaging in sexual acts without the alleged victim’s consent, and doing so through the use of force, from March 1 to July 1, 2013, according to the indictments.

But according to a notice of consent defense Wilson filed, Hanson argues that the acts were consensual, noting that the two “spent a considerable amount of time together … including attending a massage parlor” together.

Also, according to Wilson’s motion, the alleged victim “borrowed” sums of money from Hanson and allegedly “agreed to engage in sexual activity in consideration for the ‘loan.'”

The second trial is currently scheduled to begin with jury selection on Nov. 4. The testimony phase will begin either that week or the week of Nov. 11, the documents state.

The charges Hanson will face at that trial include two counts each of trafficking – involuntary servitude; aggravated felonious sexual assault – threaten retaliation; and prostitution – force or intimidation.

But Hanson again denies the allegations, according to Wilson’s motion, which states Hanson “asserts that any sexual activity between them was consensual, not forced or through intimidation, nor by way of threats to retaliate.”

“Moreover,” Wilson wrote, the alleged victim “agreed to engage in any alleged acts in exchange for money.”

And for the third trial, currently scheduled for a trial management conference on Nov. 22, jury selection on Dec. 2 and the start of testimony either that week or the week of Dec. 9. This involves the remaining three charges: one count each of trafficking – involuntary servitude; aggravated felonious sexual assault – threaten retaliation; and prostitution – force or intimidation.

They accuse Hanson of forcing that alleged victim to perform “a commercial sex act against her will” in exchange for rent money the woman allegedly owed Hanson, and threatening her to perform sex acts in order to keep her apartment, according to the indictments.

But Hanson, according to Temple’s order, “absolutely denies these criminal acts occurred.”

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