NEW BOSTON, Texas: A jury of six men and six women was selected following a long day of questioning prospective jurors Tuesday at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston.
Court staff said Monday they expected to start hearing testimony in the trial of Dylan Reed Simpson, 22, Tuesday afternoon but choosing a jury took longer than anticipated. Simpson is facing two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact and three counts of online solicitation of a minor involving four girls who attended New Boston Middle School in 2017.
During jury selection Tuesday, 202nd District Judge John Tidwell asked jurors if they had been contacted by anyone other than court staff concerning the case and advised the jury that if anyone contacts them about the case it is a crime and they should immediately notify the court. Six men and six women were seated in the case shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Opening statements and testimony are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning. Simpson is accused of touching girls sexually on the middle school campus and of sending them sexually oriented messages and photos of himself using a social media application. Authorities with the school contacted police after one of the alleged victims reported Simpson’s misconduct with her to a school counselor.
Simpson faces two to 20 years in prison on each of the five charges facing him.
