NEW BOSTON, Texas-Opening statements and witness testimony are expected to begin this morning in the trial of a Texarkana man accused of inappropriately touching the daughters of a woman he once lived with in Texarkana, Texas.
The jury chosen Tuesday is tasked with determining if Maurice Johnson, 41, is guilty of indecency with a child by contact involving one of the girls he has been charged with groping between October 2016 and March 2017 at residences in Texarkana, Texas. Both alleged victims were interviewed March 23, 2017, at a Children's Advocacy Center in Paris, Texas, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
Although the jury will only be asked to determine the outcome of one of Johnson's pending indecency cases, both girls are expected to testify, pending a ruling from 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.
Indecency with a child by contact is typically punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
However, the state is seeking to enhance the punishment range to five to 99 years or life in prison because of Johnson's prior criminal history.
According to a notice filed by Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter, Johnson has a prior conviction for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
Carter and First Assistant District Attorney Mike Shepherd are prosecuting. Johnson is represented by the Bowie County Public Defenders Office.