The trial continued Tuesday for a former youth sports coach on trial for sex crimes involving children.Eric Schmidt is charged with one count of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition and two counts of public indecency.Tuesday's testimony centered around text messages one of the accusers sent to friends the night she claims she was molested.That accuser is 19 years old, but she was 12 in 2015 — the year prosecutors say crimes against her were committed.The teenager said she was friends with Schmidt's daughter and was at their house for a sleepover in April 2015.During her testimony, she read text messages she sent to friends that night from Schmidt's home in Mason."I said, 'I really don't understand why you find that funny. No, seriously, it's a remarried man trying to rape a freaking 12-year-old kid," the accuser said. She said Schmidt exposed himself and touched her inappropriately in the theatre room of the house after his daughter fell asleep.Assistant prosecutor Travis Vieux asked her, "Did the defendant touch your hand?""Yes," she said.Vieux asked, "Did he touch your arm?""Yes," she said.Vieux asked, "Did he rub up your arm?""Yes," she said.Vieux asked, "Did he touch your shoulder?""Yes," she said.Vieux asked, "Did he touch your breast?""Yes," she said. While prosecutors are trying to use the accuser's texts as proof that Schmidt is guilty of gross sexual imposition and public indecency, defense attorneys tried using the messages to their advantage. During cross-examination, defense attorney Bill Gallagher asked, "Eric is trying to touch you?""Yes," she said.Gallagher asked, "You don't yell, right?""No," she said.Gallagher asked, "You said you just sort of froze?" "Yes," she said."Gallagher questioned how could she be frozen at the same time she carried on text message conversations with multiple friends."Does it shock you at all, in all of your text messaging in here, there's not a single spelling mistake, but you're stressed out and trying to figure out what to do?" Gallagher said."It's called autocorrect," the accuser said. Mason Detective Jeff Wyss also took the stand Tuesday. He said he began to investigate the 2015 allegations, but the case was closed when the accuser's family decided not to pursue charges.That case was reopened in 2019 after a second accuser, also 12 at the time, made allegations against Schmidt.He's been charged with rape in that case.Prosecutors said that accuser was sexually assaulted at a party for football families in the Kings and Mason area. Schmidt had coached youth football, baseball and softball.That girl is 14 years old now and is expected to testify Wednesday.Before calling her to the stand, prosecutors called a relative of Schmidt's to testify about what she said she witnessed in January 2015 when she was temporarily staying with the family.She was 19 years old at the time.She said she was alone with Schmidt watching Vampire Diaries when he suggested they watch the show downstairs.She said they relocated to the theater room and continued watching Netflix.Vieux asked her to describe what Schmidt did that she thought to be sexually inappropriate."When we were watching Netflix, after some time, the notice on the Netflix screen says 'Do you wish to continue? Click yes or no.' That had popped up. I looked to my right to see if the remote was near me to click yes. It wasn't there. I had turned to my left and Mr. Schmidt was sitting there with his genitals out," the relative said. Schmidt has not been charged with any crime in connection to that incident.Schmidt maintains his innocence. Gallagher previously said Schmidt passed a polygraph test.
The trial continued Tuesday for a former youth sports coach on trial for sex crimes involving children.
Eric Schmidt is charged with one count of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition and two counts of public indecency.
Tuesday's testimony centered around text messages one of the accusers sent to friends the night she claims she was molested.
That accuser is 19 years old, but she was 12 in 2015 — the year prosecutors say crimes against her were committed.
The teenager said she was friends with Schmidt's daughter and was at their house for a sleepover in April 2015.
During her testimony, she read text messages she sent to friends that night from Schmidt's home in Mason.
"I said, 'I really don't understand why you find that funny. No, seriously, it's a remarried man trying to rape a freaking 12-year-old kid," the accuser said.
She said Schmidt exposed himself and touched her inappropriately in the theatre room of the house after his daughter fell asleep.
Assistant prosecutor Travis Vieux asked her, "Did the defendant touch your hand?"
"Yes," she said.
Vieux asked, "Did he touch your arm?"
"Yes," she said.
Vieux asked, "Did he rub up your arm?"
"Yes," she said.
Vieux asked, "Did he touch your shoulder?"
"Yes," she said.
Vieux asked, "Did he touch your breast?"
"Yes," she said.
While prosecutors are trying to use the accuser's texts as proof that Schmidt is guilty of gross sexual imposition and public indecency, defense attorneys tried using the messages to their advantage.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Bill Gallagher asked, "Eric is trying to touch you?"
"Yes," she said.
Gallagher asked, "You don't yell, right?"
"No," she said.
Gallagher asked, "You said you just sort of froze?"
"Yes," she said."
Gallagher questioned how could she be frozen at the same time she carried on text message conversations with multiple friends.
"Does it shock you at all, in all of your text messaging in here, there's not a single spelling mistake, but you're stressed out and trying to figure out what to do?" Gallagher said.
"It's called autocorrect," the accuser said.
Mason Detective Jeff Wyss also took the stand Tuesday. He said he began to investigate the 2015 allegations, but the case was closed when the accuser's family decided not to pursue charges.
That case was reopened in 2019 after a second accuser, also 12 at the time, made allegations against Schmidt.
He's been charged with rape in that case.
Prosecutors said that accuser was sexually assaulted at a party for football families in the Kings and Mason area.
Schmidt had coached youth football, baseball and softball.
That girl is 14 years old now and is expected to testify Wednesday.
Before calling her to the stand, prosecutors called a relative of Schmidt's to testify about what she said she witnessed in January 2015 when she was temporarily staying with the family.
She was 19 years old at the time.
She said she was alone with Schmidt watching Vampire Diaries when he suggested they watch the show downstairs.
She said they relocated to the theater room and continued watching Netflix.
Vieux asked her to describe what Schmidt did that she thought to be sexually inappropriate.
"When we were watching Netflix, after some time, the notice on the Netflix screen says 'Do you wish to continue? Click yes or no.' That had popped up. I looked to my right to see if the remote was near me to click yes. It wasn't there. I had turned to my left and Mr. Schmidt was sitting there with his genitals out," the relative said.
Schmidt has not been charged with any crime in connection to that incident.
Schmidt maintains his innocence. Gallagher previously said Schmidt passed a polygraph test.
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