WARREN — A 12-year-old girl testified Tuesday that a man she’s known her entire life had been molesting and threatening her and her siblings to leave their home if she told anyone, from when she was 5 until earlier this year.

The nervous pre-teen wearing a gray dress with a black top and a bow on top in her curly hair had to be encouraged to speak loud enough for all those in the jury box to be able to hear her.

She was a witness in the trial of 76-year-old Danny McFadden, who is accused of 17 counts of first-degree felony rape, eight counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition and three counts of fourth-degree misdemeanor gross sexual imposition. McFadden is accused of progressively — over the course of seven years — touching the child in her breast area, moving down to her private area and having her commit oral sex on him and eventually on her.

The molestation occurred in her home, in his home and while he drove the child to and from sporting events and dance classes, according to testimony. The child told the court these assaults occurred two to three times per week because McFadden was a frequent babysitter for her family.

Shortly after the first instance, McFadden, according to the girl, said if she told anyone she and her siblings “…would be gone.”

Over the course of nearly two hours of testimony, she explained how the now 76-year-old began touching her privates under her clothes and over the years became increasingly aggressive in seeking satisfaction.

When questioned by Trumbull County Assistant County Prosecutor Gabe Wildman about where the assaults took place, she said they often occurred in her parents’ home den and in her bedroom, and sometimes in the kitchen of McFadden’s house. The acts often occurred when others were in different rooms of the houses, she said.

The two, according to the girl, were supposed to be playing the card game, War, while her parents and others were gathered in other rooms. However, they seldom played card games.

On occasions that her parents went on date nights, she said McFadden would walk into her dark bedroom, waking her up by flashing lights from a flashlight in her eyes and then escorting her to another area of the house, having her undress and commit sexual acts until he was satisfied.

McFadden, now a white-haired stocky man who was dressed in a blue suit and a tie at the defense table, feverishly took notes as the pre-teen testified.

VICTIM TELLS FRIENDS

Despite her fear, the girl determined May 7 that she needed to talk to someone about what had been happening. She texted a friend who had played with her on several of the school’s sports teams.

The 13-year-old friend emphasized she needed to tell her parents, or at least another adult. The victim responded that she was hesitant to tell her parents because she was not sure how they would react.

The 13-year-old noted that the victim also texted a different friend. That person’s phone was seen by other students at the school, so the information about what was happening had spread to a small group of students.

However, most of those who reached out were relatively kind and supportive to the girl. According to a cross-examination by defense attorney Joseph R. Ohlin, it was noted in the texts that she felt both her parents hated her.

Later, during his rebuttal period, Wildman noted that the texts also noted that she hated herself for allowing her fear to allow the abuse to last as long as it had before she told someone. He said that the text about her parents hating her likely was an overreaction of a teen girl.

On May 12, the girl approached the school resource officer, James Newton, saying she needed to talk to him about something that occurred outside of school. Newton is a deputy with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office. Newton and Dean of Students Mark Komlanc later called her into the dean’s office, at which time she made her accusations against McFadden.

GIRL’S PARENTS BECOME INVOLVED

The girl’s mother was called to the school. After hearing the story, the mother called the father, who had worked the third shift the previous night and was asleep at home.

Once both parents were informed, it was determined they needed to take the information to the Niles Police Department because the instances of the multiple assaults all occurred in that city.

Before going to the police station, the teen and her parents went back to their home, where, according to testimony, she provided them a significantly more detailed account of what had been happening.

“I was sick and wanted to throw up,” she said about her reaction when told what had been happening to her daughter.

“My husband passed out,” she added. “He fell to the side onto the floor.”

The victim’s mother, who would not look directly at McFadden, described being frustrated and disgusted at him because of his actions. She also said she was afraid of him.

Because McFadden told investigators that he never was left alone with the victim, Wildman questioned whether that was true.

“No,” she responded.

The victim’s father during his afternoon testimony described never suspecting what may have been happening.

After reporting the incidents, the victim described using pins to cut her arms, shoulders and a leg to hurt herself. Her mother said her daughter, as well as her husband and herself, are seeing counselors to help them get through this period.

She described her relationship with her daughter as close and one in which they could discuss anything.

“She is smart, athletic and kind,” the mother said.

A former nanny for the victim described McFadden giving “inappropriate” hugs and touches over a multiyear period.

The trial is expected to continue today at 8:45 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice.