NORWICH – The trial of a Sherburne man accused of sexually abusing a child in 2008 began yesterday, with jurors seated at approximately 2:30 p.m. to hear opening statements from both the prosecution and defense at the Chenango County Courthouse.

The defendant, Charles L. Collins III, 32, was indicted in July of 2011 on charges of predatory sexual assault against a child, a class A-II felony; first degree incest, a class B violent felony; first degree criminal sexual act, also a class B violent felony; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.

It is alleged that Collins, on an unspecified date in the summer of 2008, forced an 11-year-old boy to perform sexual acts upon himself, later engaging in and subjecting him to sexual contact as well.

According to the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, represented by part-time district attorney Michael Ferrarese, the prosecution will call multiple witnesses to the stand throughout the course of the trial, expected to last two to three days. Witnesses include the child’s mother, various law enforcement investigators and the child himself.

Ferrarese, in his opening statement, detailed Collins’ relationship with the child over the years, which eventually expanded to include supervised contact with the boy, later spending every other weekend together. In June of 2011, the boy disclosed the alleged sex crime to his mother, who immediately contacted the New York State Police. A controlled phone call – with authorities listening in – was then initiated between the child and Collins.

During that phone call, the 11-year-old allegedly told Collins, “I need to tell someone” about the incident, said Ferrarese, to which Collins responded, “Wait until you talk to me first” and “you don’t want to do anything to [expletive] up seeing me.”