The jury trial against a Jefferson man enters its second day.

Assistant Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn told Raccoon Valley Radio that the trial against 47-year-old James Hubert Exline started Tuesday with opening statements made by both the prosecutor and the defense attorney. Laehn gave the prosecution’s opening statement. He said it’s a great responsibility when you give the opening statement because you are trying to tell the jury, in a narrative, what the evidence and witnesses are going to show for your case.

The State got to go first and call its witnesses. Laehn said they called seven people to testify from family to law enforcement, an Iowa Department of Human Services representative, an individual with Project Harmony, as well as showing forensic interviews and medical examinations. Laehn anticipates the State to finish calling its final witnesses Wednesday morning and then it’s the defense attorney’s turn to call his witnesses. Once the prosecution and defense rests, then there will be closing statements followed by jury deliberations.

Exline is accused of sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter Paige Exline from June 2016 to April 2017. Paige died in a house fire in Guthrie Center in May of 2017.

Laehn believes they are still on target to finish the trial by the end of this week. Raccoon Valley Radio will continue to bring you updates of this trial as it becomes official.