Hampden hall of justice aerial 2003.jpg

The Hampden County Hall of Justice, center, is seen in downtown Springfield in this aerial photo. A defendant Tuesday testified that a rainbow meant God approved of his marrying a 16-year-old.

(The Republican file)

John L. Ecker

SPRINGFIELD - Hampden Superior Court jurors on Tuesday heard John Ecker's testimony on events that resulted in him being charged with stalking, criminal harassment and other crimes.

Ecker, 53, said he had never had any more than a brief conversation with a 16-year-old girl when he said to her, "I know it's scary, and it is scary, but will you marry me."

The girl had testified Ecker's escalating actions - including letters he wrote while incarcerated about their imagined future together - were extremely frightening to her. The letters were written in violation of a criminal harassment order the girl had gotten against Ecker.

When asked why he thought it was appropriate to ask her to marry him, he said, "I didn't know there was a criteria to meet before you asked someone to marry you."

"Having attraction to a person under 18 is considered socially unacceptable, period, in this society," Ecker said. He said he was aware the girl was considered a minor "by man's law."

He said one day in August 2013 he saw a rainbow between his apartment and the apartment of the relative the girl would often visit, and the girl was standing on the sidewalk.

Ecker said from studying scriptures, the rainbow was a sign from God, Allah to Noah to go forward and multiple and be fruitful.

The rainbow, Ecker said, told him God was OK with him taking the girl as a wife.

Jurors heard closing arguments in the case and began deliberations Tuesday afternoon. They will continue Wednesday.

Most of the charges against Ecker, including counts of stalking, criminal harassment and violating a criminal harassment order, involve the 16-year-old.

But three other women are also named as victims in the 20 charges against Ecker.

Defense lawyer Brett Lampiasi told jurors in his closing argument Ecker does not have the capacity to form the intent for stalking, criminal harassment or intimidation of a witness.

He said testimony from the girl and her cousin that Ecker masturbated in his apartment window while they were across the street is false. Ecker is charged with two counts of open and gross lewdness for that.

Lampiasi said Ecker's behavior is bizarre and socially unacceptable but "it doesn't make it criminal."

"He just didn't get it....he doesn't understand social cues," Lampiasi said.

Assistant District Attorney Karen J. Bell said Ecker knew exactly what he was doing, and did what he did maliciously and deliberately.

She said he scared all four victims by his actions.

Ecker said in a communication with the 16-year-old, "We will be together until death do us part," Bell said.

"She was afraid he was going to take her away from her family and do things to her," Bell said.

Ecker had been found competent to stand trial. He testified he has only been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

The jury has heard testimony that Ecker was in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons for 20 years beginning in 1989, most of that time in mental health correctional facilities. Ecker testified although held for that time he was never convicted.

A state Department of Mental Health case worker had testified he was assigned to help Ecker reintegrate into society after being institutionalized for so long. That worker said Ecker could not pick up on social cues.

Jurors have not heard any more details.

Lampiasi said the victim's were scared out of proportion to Ecker's actions after they looked up Ecker on the Internet.

There are several court decisions available on the Internet regarding Ecker's status.

Contained in them is information Ecker was originally charged in 1989 federally with felony possession of a firearm but was held in federal custody for mental health treatment due to reports from wardens and doctors that his mental illness rendered him a danger to himself or others.

When federal custody ended - without his case being tried - he was transferred to Worcester State Hospital and released from there and assigned a case worker from the state Department of Mental Health.

Jurors are instructed at the time they are impaneled not to do any independent research about the case, including consulting the Internet.