Testimony began Thursday in the jury trial of a Rapid City man accused of raping a 7-year-old girl on several occasions.

Kasey Onken, 34, is charged in 7th Circuit Court with five counts of criminal pedophilia, which is defined as having sexual penetration with someone younger than 13 if the perpetrator is 26 years old or older.

Each count carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

To each of those five counts, Onken is charged with an alternate count of having sexual contact with a child younger than 16.

Each count of sexual contact carries a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison.

All counts apply to one girl, who was 7 years old when the incidents allegedly took place. That was between August and November in 2004.

Kevin Krull, chief deputy state's attorney for Pennington County, said in opening statements that the girl did not tell her mother about the rape for almost a year because she was embarrassed and frightened.

"This paints an extremely ugly picture," Krull told the jury about the case. "But this is what happened, and this is the evidence we have to present to you."

Onken's attorney, Bryan Andersen, said he has evidence that will show that the alleged victim made up the story about the rape.

Andersen said the girl has a history of saying other boys or men had sex with her when it did not happen.

The alleged victim, now 10 years old, took the stand and said that on more than one occasion, Onken removed her clothes and forced her to have sex with him while she was at his home.

She wept as she told the jury about waiting a long time to tell her mother.

The mother took the stand as well, testifying that she knows her daughter is telling the truth because of the look on her face when she first told.

"She looked ashamed, like she had gotten caught for doing something wrong," the mother said.

Seventh Circuit Judge Jack Delaney is presiding over the trial.

Onken remains free on a $50,000 bond.

The trial is expected to wrap up today.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com