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Carrier's lawyers to rest case Tuesday
Posted: 04.09.2012 at 6:08 PM
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Joshua Carrier  / FOX21: file photo
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The attorneys for the man accused of sexually assaulting at least 22 current and former middle school boys are expected to rest their case Tuesday after spending much of Monday questioning "experts," including therapists and psychologists.

Joshua Carrier is a former assistant wrestling coach at Horace Mann Middle School. During the 2010-2011 season, he allegedly sexually assaulted more than a dozen boys while performing "skin checks" on them.

Carrier claims he was simply looking for injuries such as ringworm and lesions that would keep a wrestler from competing.

Monday defense attorneys called a marriage, family and sex therapist to the stand, who said there is a lot of evidence that suggests a person can consume erotic images and not go out and act on them.

Carrier is also charged with possession of child pornography, including allegedly taking photos of the naked boys he performed the checks on.

More on the Carrier trial
Father of suspect testifies 
Typical sex offender behavior 
Carrier not an EMT 
Last of alleged victims testifies 
Alleged victim blames himself 

A sociology professor also took the stand, defining "moral panic," "labeling" and "scapegoating." The professor said children are much more susceptible to moral panic, which is a real phenomenon that could have taken place in this situation.

A forensic psychologist was the last to take the stand, saying emotions can always interfere with a person's memory, but that extreme emotions, such as the ones the alleged victims experienced, can influence the way they remember events.

Carrier is expected to decide Tuesday whether or not he will testify. If he does, he will be the last witness to do so. Closing arguments should conclude before the week is over, at which time the trial will be handed to the jury.

Carrier, the former Colorado Springs Police officer, is facing a possibility of life in prison if convicted.

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