Lebanon man gets 15-30 years in rape of girlfriend's autistic daughter

David Shaw is whisked away by a Strafford County Sheriff's deputy immediately at the conclusion of his sentencing hearing on Wednesday at Strafford County Superior Court. (Rochester Voice photos)

DOVER - Citing the damage done to a young autistic girl groomed for sex by a man she'd come to see as a father figure, a Strafford County Superior Court judge on Wednesday handed down a 15-30 year prison sentence for a Lebanon, Maine, man convicted of raping her in her own bed inside her Barrington home sometime between August 2015 and August 2016.

David A. Shaw, 49, formerly of Lower Guinea Road, Lebanon, was found guilty in March of two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault for performing oral sex on the victim and having her perform oral sex on him, both of which were punishable by 25 years to life in prison; and a third sex assault charge for having her touch his penis.

Assistant County Attorney Tim Sullivan pushed hard for just such a sentence, saying the girl, who was between 8 and 9 at the time she was sexually assaulted, had developed a fondness for Shaw, who was in a long-term relationship and living with her mother in Barrington.

David A. Shaw looks sideways at the jury while testifying at his March trial.

"He exploited her," Sullivan said. "He tried to learn all about her autism, so he could use that." Sullivan said Shaw slowly but steadily groomed her to do his sexual bidding. Sullivan also noted that while he wouldn't go into presentencing statements made by her to officials, he did say she was still "obsessed" with him.

"He may have left no physical scars, but the mental injury is there," Sullivan said in arguing for the 25-year to life sentence.

Shaw on Wednesday was sentenced to 10-20 years and 5-10 years for performing oral sex on the girl and having her perform same on him. The sentences run consecutively for a 15-years minimum sentence, but Shaw can cut four years off that for good behavior and successful completion of a sex abuser program.

A third sex assault charge for having the girl touch his penis resulted in a 10-20 years sentence, all suspended.

Shaw's lead defense attorney, Sarah G. Landres, had urged a 5-10 year sentence, with five years suspended upon completion of a sex offender program.

She cited several similar cases in which offenders had preyed on young children that had been sentenced to seven-15 years, but Houran noted that Shaw had groomed a young autistic child who looked up to and cared for him as aggravating factors that warranted a stiffer penalty.

Ironically, it was the mother of the victim, the woman who invited Shaw into her home to be what she hoped would be a long-term partner who would help raise her two young girls, who showed the most compassion for her former boyfriend.

"This has been overwhelming," she said of the weeklong trial and the two years it'd taken to go from the arrest of Shaw to sentencing day. "A life has been harmed, but he should be given a chance, be as compassionate as me," she said. "However, I don't believe he can be around young children for a long time, and that therapy alone can't fix his situation."

Shaw, who is divorced with two biological children of his own, committed the sexual assaults in the girl's bunkbed as her younger sister lay in the top bunk and her mom was in the couple's bedroom two floors below.

Defense team members Kristen Guilmette, left, and Sarah G. Landres implore David Shaw to say a few words to the courtroom during his sentencing on Wednesday. When he did finally speak a few words they were all but unintelligible.

During the trial it was learned Shaw began his predatory move on the alleged victim soon after moving in with his girlfriend.

"He moved in and the routine included touching and then cuddling on the couch watching TV, and then in the bed when he tucked her in," Sullivan said at trial.

Sullivan said Shaw then slowly and methodically groomed the young girl for his purposes of sexual satisfaction, desensitizing her to the presence of his penis by using it as part and parcel of ongoing jokes.

As the sentencing neared its end, Shaw, coaxed for nearly a minute by his defense team, made a brief statement to the court - maybe 15 words - but they were indiscernible.

Sullivan was not immediately available after the sentencing, while defense lawyers, as had been the case throughout the trial, refused comment.