PORTLAND (AP) — A former Maine state trooper convicted of sexually touching a young girl is appealing to the state’s highest court.
A lawyer for ex-trooper Gregory Vrooman of Nobleboro said Tuesday before the Supreme Judicial Court that jurors shouldn’t have been told his client watched erotic images on his home and work computers because they were unrelated to the charges.
The 47-year-old Vrooman was convicted in July and sentenced to serve 21 months.
The Kennebec Journal reports that Vrooman’s lawyer said images of “sexually provocative actions by young girls” were not illegal, and distracted jurors from appropriately assessing the credibility of the alleged victim, a 12-year-old girl.
Prosecutors say viewing the images showed Vrooman’s state of mind.
The court did not immediately rule.
Vrooman is free on bail pending the appeal.
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