WARREN — A Hubbard man is scheduled to stand trial beginning today on sexual assault charges, and the alleged young victim has asked a Trumbull County judge to allow a “facility dog” to aid her in telling her story before jurors.

Kenneth Nitso, 33, of Highland Drive, is facing 14 charges, including five counts of rape that carry potential life sentences. Jury selection for the case is scheduled to begin this morning in the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge Andrew D. Logan.

Last week, Logan received a request from Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman that a “facility dog” is needed to help with the victim’s testimony.

“It is not difficult to imagine the emotional stress and trauma caused to the child victim in this matter. She has extreme difficulty talking about the abuse and shuts down when she becomes too overwhelmed or uncomfortable,” Wildman wrote the judge. “(There is) no doubt that this difficulty will be exponentially exasperated when she is forced to testify before a crowded courtroom, including jurors, media, support staff, etc.”

Wildman argued this would not set a precedent in Ohio courts. He noted the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office has been using a facility dog named Avery for about 10 years. He said other state and local agencies have obtained dogs for this purpose.

To help in the Nitso case, Wildman said the Hubbard Police Department has such an animal available, a Labradoodle named Oakley.

“He has received extensive behavioral training and dozens of hours of training as a therapy dog, who routinely helps police and is a regular fixture in Hubbard schools,” Wildman stated.

Oakley’s handler, Hubbard police Chief Bob Thompson, would be available for trial should the court grant the motion, Wildman said.

Wildman said the allegation in this case centers around the defendant grooming the victim by touching her sexually when she was 6. As the child victim grew older, the sexual abuse became more invasive, Wildman stated, with Nitzo also accused of offering the child money and other valuable items in exchange for sexual acts. This abuse is alleged to have continued through approximately age 12 when the abuse was reported, he said.

Because the request was filed Friday, the judge had not yet responded to Wildman’s motion.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com