09/19/2019- More witnesses took the stand yesterday in the sexual assault trial being heard in Marinette County Court. 47-year-old Jason Lavigne is facing one count of third-degree sexual assault following a family trip to Stephenson last summer where he allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old girl. Lavgine’s daughter testified she witnessed the incident in part and claims it was the alleged victim, not Lavigne, who instigated. However, the state says a phone call between Lavigne and his daughter while Lavigne was in custody suggests Lavigne coached her through what to tell authorities.
During his testimony, Lavigne himself rejected the notion that he told his daughter what to say and instead says he was only summarizing what she had previously told him she witnessed and was reassuring her. Lavigne’s attorney moved the case be dismissed due to lack of evidence, but that was denied by the judge. Both the state and the defense will make their closing arguments today and the case will be handed over to the jury for deliberation.