BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — An attorney for a man accused of abusing developmentally disabled patients at a state-run center is getting a shot at painting his client in a better light.

After two days of testimony against Matthew Pangborn, defense attorney Brett McArthur began his case Wednesday, calling witnesses to the stand.

Martha McCarthy, a former staff assistant at the Beatrice State Development Center, testified that Pangborn was well-liked by residents at the center.

Under cross-examination, McCarthy revealed that she had worked a total of 19 days with Pangborn.

On Monday and Tuesday, former co-workers testified that they saw Pangborn hit and choke residents at the center. Pangborn is being tried on six counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult and four counts of strangulation.