Ex-Belmont man appeals sex assault conviction

CONCORD — A former Belmont man who was found guilty in April of repeatedly sexually assaulting an adolescent girl over five years has appealed his conviction to the state Supreme Court.

Keith Chandler, 46, was convicted in April 11 on five counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, two counts of attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault, and two counts of felonious sexual assault.

Last month a judge imposed four consecutive five- to 10-year sentences on four counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, with the possibility of having 2½ years of the minimum sentenced suspended if Chandler successfully completes a sexual offender program.

Caroline Brown, Chandler’s attorney, filed a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court on June 5.

The filing does not state on the reasons for the appeal. But the filing includes documents relating to Judge James D. O’Neill III’s ruling denying the defense’s motion to bar an exchange on a social networking site between Chandler and his victim from being introduced as evidence during the trial.

The Facebook Messenger screenshot was of one of a number of texts Chandler allegedly sent to the victim. The victim said Chandler sent her “inappropriate things” to her Facebook Messenger account.

The defense had sought to have the screenshot excluded from being shown at trial because the prosecution did not give the defense adequate advance warning that the evidence existed, because it could not be authenticated, and because it was overly prejudicial toward the defendant. The defense further argued that if the screen shot were to be shown at trial, it should be admitted only if the entire Facebook Messenger exchange between Chandler and the victim was admitted.

Chandler, who had no prior criminal record, committed various forms of sexual abuse when the victim was between 11 and 16 years old and she was a member of Chandler’s household, Belknap County Attorney Andrew Livernois said at the time of Chandler’s sentencing.