NORWICH – The trial of Charles Collins III, accused in the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old boy in the summer of 2008, is expected to reach the hands of the jury by the end of the day, and Collins himself may take the stand in his own defense, according to one source.

Collins, 32, Sherburne, is charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, a class A-II felony; first degree incest, a class B violent felony; first degree criminal sexual act, also a class B violent felony; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.

The prosecution wrapped up its case against Collins early Wednesday afternoon, calling a total of five witnesses to the stand, including the alleged victim, his mother, a pair of New York State Police investigators and a computer analyst who retrieved information from Collins’ computer.

In September of 2008, Collins was charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child, a class D Felony, and possessing a sexual performance by a child, a class E Felony, following a joint investigation conducted by the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit, the Sherburne Police Department, FBI Binghamton, the Southern Tier Cyber Predator Task Force and the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.

Collins now faces the possibility of a lengthy state prison sentence if convicted, accused of forcing an 11-year-old boy to perform sexual acts upon himself on an unspecified day in August of 2008.