In Cayuga County, an Auburn police officer is on trial, charged with official misconduct and accepting bribes. YNN's Bill Carey says the prosecution is in the process of laying out its case to jurors.

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AUBURN, N.Y. -- There are two very different stories being told in this Cayuga County courtroom.

Defense attorneys and their client, former Auburn police officer Brian Hutchings, claim he was just doing his job. Stopping trucks for commercial inspections. And they say he did get a break on some work done on his home because he was a lifelong friend of the owner of a local construction firm.

The district attorney for Cayuga County tells a different story. In his version, Hutchings shook down contractors, giving them information to avoid inspection points in return for free work on his home. Things fell apart, the DA says, when Hutchings' old friend insisted that the police officer at least pay for material costs for work on his driveway. When he didn't and the company pressed the issue, Tim LoCastro claims Hutchings started frequently stopping his trucks and harassing drivers. He's even alleged to have beaten and pepper sprayed one driver.

The prosecution has been calling witnesses ranging from truck operators to office managers to tell the contractor's side of the story. They also brought Auburn's police chief to the stand to discuss complaints about Hutchings.

The parade of witnesses will continue here at the Cayuga County courthouse. This trial expected to last about two weeks.

It is then that the seven woman, five man jury will begin the process of sifting through testimony and documents to determine which story they believe.