Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning at the Bowie County courthouse for a former substitute teacher accused of sexual misconduct with New Boston, Texas, middle school girls.
Dylan Reed Simpson, 22, is charged with two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact and three counts of online solicitation of a minor involving four girls who were New Boston middle school students in 2017. Each count is punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
Before jury selection begins Tuesday, 202nd District Judge John Tidwell is scheduled to hear arguments on a motion from First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards seeking to have other alleged victims testify for the state at Simpson’s trial. Defense attorneys Shorty Barrett and Joe Tyler of Texarkana are opposed to the motion.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Simpson allegedly sought out girls he knew from the school on social media and sent them sexually suggestive messages and graphic photos of himself. Simpson is also accused of touching a student’s breast and of rubbing himself on a student seated at a desk.
Opening statements and testimony are expected to begin following jury selection Tuesday. Simpson is currently free on bond.
