The decision about whether a Valley Springs man raped a six-year-old girl last summer is now in the hands of the jury.
Fifty-seven-year-old Kevin Buchholtz faces two counts of first degree rape, sexual contact with a child and indecent exposure charges. He's accused of touching a six-year-old inside the garage of his Valley Springs mobile home last summer and then touching her again inside his bedroom.
During closing arguments Friday morning, defense attorneys for Buchholtz said specifically that, 'Kevin did not commit this crime.' They argued that law enforcement was on a witch hunt and that the young six-year-old was confused by two young boys who had exposed themselves inside the garages of their homes at a different time.
But prosecutors say there is no reason why the six-year-old would make up a story about Buchholtz touching her, penetrating her, and exposing himself to her in his bedroom. Prosecutors said the victim is six and is not sophisticated enough to make up all of the details of the molestation that she told to investigators and the jury.
The jury was handed the case at about 11:30 a.m. We will bring you the verdict when it's handed down.
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