3/20/13 - Jury deliberations could begin as early as today in the trial of a Tyrone Township man facing sexual assault charges. The trial of 43-year-old Timothy Andrew Pickett began Monday in Livingston County Circuit Court. The prosecution entered one piece of evidence and testimony from two witnesses before resting its case. A motion for directed verdict was denied, and the defense provided testimony from two witnesses of its own before the end of the day. Both sides are expected to make closing arguments this morning before the case goes to the jury for deliberations. Pickett is accused of accosting a child for immoral purposes on January 27th, 2012 and failing to register as a sex offender for a prior conviction of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under the age of 13. Pickett had recently been paroled for the previous conviction when the most recent offense allegedly occurred. It involved a 14-year-old female victim who said Pickett repeatedly asked to touch her inappropriately and made comments to her on a trip to the store. The defense maintained the teen made up the story to keep her mother and Pickett apart. (JK)
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