EFFINGHAM COUNTY — Attorneys in the case against a 66-year-old Effingham man accused of sexually assaulting four children who attended his wife’s in-home daycare, spent time this week preparing for the defendant’s jury trial Monday.

Martin Hubbard is charged with eight Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of four young boys at Mother Hubbard’s Daycare and Preschool, an early child care facility run by his wife, Maria.

Attorneys in the case agreed this week to consolidate all eight counts for trial as two of the alleged victims are four years old and two are three years old.

The court found that because the acts alleged are nearly identical and were against male children of nearly identical age, the prosecution can argue in its closing arguments that Hubbard has a propensity for such acts.

If Hubbard is convicted on at least two of the eight counts against him he could face a possible life sentence.

Jury selection in the case is scheduled for 8:30 Monday morning in Effingham County Court.