BARRY COUNTY, MI (WKZO) --  The Jury in the Michael Terpening sex abuse trial is expected to begin deliberations today after receiving final instructions in a Barry County courtroom.  Terpening is charged with 13-counts of criminal sexual conduct, for allegedly molesting boys assigned to the group home he operated near Bellevue.

The prosecutor called him a predator who liked to prey on troubled boys.   The defense cast those boys as street smart and cunning, who would not be above lying for their own gain.

Yesterday Terpening took to the stand and denied every accusation, saying they simply didn’t happen or were efforts to comfort that were misinterpreted.  On Cross examination, the prosecutor wanted to know why all these boys would come forward will allegations, if they weren’t true. For the jury, it comes down to his word against theirs.