Testimony begins today in the trial of a Texarkana man accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in 1993.
The girl reported the alleged abuse nearly 10 years after her stepfather at the time reportedly molested her.
The abuse allegedly happened while the victim’s mother was away attending church events, according to court documents.
On Nov. 9, 2004, the alleged victim contacted the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department, documents state. During an interview with detectives, the suspect confessed to engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with the girl, who is now an adult, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by a TTPD detective on Dec. 15, 2004.
The suspect’s defense attorney, David Lashford of Texarkana, declined Monday to accept a plea offer made by Assistant District Attorney Michael Shepherd at the final pretrial hearing scheduled in the case.
The details of the plea offer were not disclosed in open court.
A jury of five women and seven men was selected Tuesday to hear the case. District Judge Leon F. Pesek Jr. will preside over the trial, which begins this morning at the Bowie County Courthouse in New Boston, Texas.
The girl reported the alleged abuse nearly 10 years after her stepfather at the time reportedly molested her.
The abuse allegedly happened while the victim’s mother was away attending church events, according to court documents.
On Nov. 9, 2004, the alleged victim contacted the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department, documents state. During an interview with detectives, the suspect confessed to engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with the girl, who is now an adult, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by a TTPD detective on Dec. 15, 2004.
The suspect’s defense attorney, David Lashford of Texarkana, declined Monday to accept a plea offer made by Assistant District Attorney Michael Shepherd at the final pretrial hearing scheduled in the case.
The details of the plea offer were not disclosed in open court.
A jury of five women and seven men was selected Tuesday to hear the case. District Judge Leon F. Pesek Jr. will preside over the trial, which begins this morning at the Bowie County Courthouse in New Boston, Texas.