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Porter County jury to hear child molestation case with accusations dating back 9 years

Times - 5/15/2023

May 15—VALPARAISO — Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in a molestation case involving accusations that date back nearly nine years ago.

Agustin Espinoza II, 50, of Chesterton is accused of repeatedly molesting a young girl he knew beginning between her seventh- and eighth-grade years in school, according to court records.

The alleged offenses occurred between July 1, 2014, and April 3, 2016, in Chesterton, according to the charges filed in June 2017.

The girl reportedly told police she rearranged her bedroom, slept in a more guarded position in a different spot in bed, locked her door and wore sweaters in an attempt to discourage the abuse.

The girl "noted that the incidents seemed to happen every two weeks," police said.

Espinoza, who is represented by defense attorney Jesse Harper, has denied molesting the girl, records show.

Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish is presiding at this week's trial.

The trial was scheduled for August 2019 but was derailed at the eleventh hour when potential new evidence arose, officials said at the time.

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