AUBURN - The trial of a man accused of child molestation will go to the jury for deliberations on Friday after the prosecution and the defense finished calling witnesses on Wednesday.

Emmet Baker, 60, of 526 Bird Cemetery Road, Locke, was on trial in Cayuga County Court after he was accused of having sexual contact with four boys between the ages of 8 and 11 years old.

Baker, who was previously convicted of having sexual contact with a 12-year-old in Florida in the 1980s, denied any allegations that he had sexual contact with the victims between June 2006 and June 2007.

Baker testified during his trial that he met three of the children when their parents purchased a go cart-sized race car from him in 2006.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Baker was well known in the local microd racing community for his technical skills with the small race cars, which was why the family went to him.

After talking to the family on several occasions, Baker said he was befriended by the parents and became the children's weekend babysitter

The three children and one of their friends would often stay at his house overnight and play video games and watch movies while their parents were out of town, Baker said.

It was in his home that Baker allegedly touched or forced the victims to touch him as they sat on a couch playing video games, the victims testified.

Baker said it was impossible for him to touch the children in the manner described because he physically could not sit down on the couch.

A bad lower back and a bad knee made it hard for him to bend over or stand up after he sat down on the couch, Baker said.

During cross examination, Budelmann asked Baker how he managed to clean up some sheet metal the children dragged into his yard if he could not bend over.

Baker said the metal was light enough that he could bend over by using one hand to brace himself on his knee as he bent over while using the other hand to pick up the metal.

After both sides finished calling witnesses, Budelmann said the case would come down to whether or not the jury believed the children's testimony.

“They either believe all of (the children), or they don't,” Budelmann said. “If they only believe one or two children I don't see how they can't believe all of them.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net