A Harmony man charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile girl multiple times more than 20 years ago was described Wednesday as hard working, kind and fun by family and friends.

Those same defense witnesses said the woman he’s accused of raping has a reputation for not being truthful, tends to embellish and exaggerate, is easily influenced and manipulated and seeks attention.

Their testimony came on the third day of the trial of Shaun Sheffer, 46, who has been charged with raping the girl numerous times from 1995 to 2000. She is now 36 years old.

The attorney general’s office charged Sheffer with rape, rape of a mentally disabled person, rape of a person under 13 years old, indecent assault of a person under 13, indecent assault of a person with a mental disability, indecent assault and corruption of minors.

The woman, who testified Monday, said he raped her 30 to 50 times beginning when she was 4 years old until she was 12.

Sheffer is one of 14 members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses across the state who were charged by the attorney general’s office in 2023 with sexually assaulting minors.

His father Timothy Sheffer, brother Joshua Sheffer, three of his cousins and two longtime friends testified before the jury in Common Pleas Court.

Timothy Sheffer said his son Shaun Sheffer and the woman got along until the allegations became known.

He said she has been untruthful and tends to embellish and exaggerate. He said she hears about problems other people are having and claims she has the same issues.

Timothy Sheffer said Shaun, his oldest child, worked long hours and spent a lot of time away from home.

He said he never asked him about the allegations and does not know whether they are true. He said one of his other sons, Brandon Sheffer, told him about the allegations.

Brandon Sheffer, who testified Tuesday as a prosecution witness, and his wife contacted the attorney general’s office and reported that the woman told him that Shaun Sheffer raped her.

A special agent with the attorney general’s office testified Tuesday that Brandon Sheffer and his wife called a tip line after the office issued a news release in February 2023 about sexual assault charges being filed against Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

Joshua Sheffer testified that Brandon Sheffer told him about the allegations, but he never saw anything unusual take place between Shaun Sheffer and the woman.

He described Shaun as “not the nicest guy” and Brandon as kind and nice, “but I feel he always has to be right.”

He said the woman was quiet and good hearted when she was younger, but she exaggerates. He said he never asked Shaun or the woman about the allegations.

Timothy and Joshua Sheffer said the woman was not diagnosed with autism or a mental disability. She testified Monday that she is autistic.

One of the Sheffer brothers’ cousins testified that the woman told him that Shaun raped her, but didn’t provide any details. He said she is easily influenced, always wanted attention and never said that she was afraid of Shaun.

Another cousin described Shaun Sheffer as his best friend and the woman as “nontruthful” and manipulative.

A third cousin testified that she was close with Shaun Sheffer and was not aware of any issues between him and the woman, who had a learning disability when she was a child. She said the woman does not have a reputation for truthfulness.

Friends who said they have known the Sheffers most of their lives said Shaun Sheffer did not have a reputation for violence.

The trial resumes Thursday.