ALFRED — A jury at York County Superior Court was to resume deliberations this morning in the sexual assault trial of Zachary Garrison of Sanford.

Garrison, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting a 16 year-old girl who was having a sleepover with his teenage daughter in the spring of 2014.

The trial is in its sixth day today. Prosecutors and defense attorneys wrapped up closing arguments Wednesday and the jury began deliberations early Wednesday afternoon.

Twice in about two hours of deliberations the jury sent out notes requesting information. In the first, they asked for transcripts of statements that Justice John O’Neil pointed out had not been entered into evidence, and therefore could not be provided.

A second note asked they be allowed to review testimony that had been entered into evidence and Justice O’Neil arranged for the jury to hear the audio this morning.

The evening the alleged assault took place began with alcohol-fueled games of hide and seek and truth or dare, where Garrison is alleged to have supplied rum drinks. At one point, the victim was in a closet when, she alleged, Garrison came in and started rubbing up against her. She said she told him he was a grown man and that what he was doing was gross. Later, he allegedly pushed her on the bed and sexually assaulted her. When she screamed, he allegedly told her to be quiet, because his children were asleep in an adjoining bedroom. The girl fled to her friend’s room, where she spent the rest of the night.

On the stand earlier this week, the victim said she didn’t report the assault that night because she was afraid that something bad would happen. The girl said Garrison told her not to tell anyone.

Garrison was arrested April 1, 2014 and has been held at York County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail since that time. At the time of his arrest, Sanford Police said he had been investigated for similar alleged behavior in the past, referring to him as a “serial predator” and asking other women to step forward.

Garrison is charged with one count of gross sexual assault, a Class A crime, which carries a maximum prison term of 30 years upon conviction.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.

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