ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The alleged victim gave testimony Saturday morning in the trial of Christianson Sean Hill, accused of raping a minor.

Hill, 32, of Wheeling had been sentenced to life in prison in March 2018, but the Seventh District Court of Appeals overturned his guilty plea. According to a Sept. 20 news release from the appeals court, Hill’s guilty plea was overturned because the court found Hill was not fully informed that he would be waiving his constitutional right to a jury trial by making the plea.

According to the Belmont County Clerk of Courts Office, Hill had entered an Alford plea, which denies guilt but recognizes there is sufficient evidence for a conviction.

The alleged victim gave her account, stating Hill committed the latest forcible offense in April 2017, when this was reported to authorities. She was 12 at the time and indicated the abuse had been ongoing for about two years. She described Hill driving her to graveyards and committing some offenses, but did not know the exact location. She described the alleged offenses as painful and said Hill threatened her and her relatives so she would be silent.

On the day she disclosed the alleged offenses in April 2017, she said she had been abused that morning prior to school, then threw her underwear away.

“I put them in a trash can and I covered them with things in the trash can,” she said.

She said she told a friend at school what had happened, and the friend told school officials. She also described her interview at Harmony House. She said she is still in counseling and has difficulty sleeping.

Hill’s defense attorney, Brent Clyburn, cross-examined the alleged victim, asking to what degree she had discussed her testimony with the prosecution prior to taking the stand. She said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan had asked her questions a few days prior.

She also was asked about her and her family’s relationship with Hill, and if one family member disliked Hill and ever asked the alleged victim if Hill had behaved inappropriately. She said this was not the case. Clyburn also asked about any hostile relationships with classmates.

According to Flanagan’s opening statement, DNA profiles belonging to Christianson Hill were found in the underwear thrown away, and other DNA evidence consistent with Hill was found in a rape kit.

Detective Sgt. Doug Cruse of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, took the stand and testified about the investigative process. He said he specializes in cases of sexual assault and crimes against children.

He said he and a Children Services worker visited the alleged victim’s residence the day of the reported incident and the Children Services worker located the underwear. Cruse described the process of sending evidence to be analyzed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Cruse said he also obtained a search warrant to extract a known DNA sample from Hill.

Clyburn asked about the process of storing and sending evidence. Clyburn also pointed out the underwear was found in the trash, buried beneath other refuse.

The state rested its case. The trial is expected to continue Monday afternoon.