A jury of six men and six women was chosen Tuesday to decide the fate of a man accused of multiple counts of sexual misconduct with a girl who was under 14 in 1999.
Demitres Coleman, 40, is being tried on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact which allegedly occurred from 1999 to 2002 with a girl under 14. One of two other indictments accuses Coleman of misconduct with a girl under 17 in 2007. The third indictment involves allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 15-year-old girl in January. Those indictments will remain pending and Coleman could face trials on those charges at a later date.
Coleman is currently in Bowie County custody. He is being represented by First Assistant Public Defender Will Williams and Public Defender Chad Crowl. Assitant District Attorneys Kelley Crisp and Lauren Sutton are prosecuting. Fifth District Judge Bill Miller is presiding over the trial.
Opening arguments and the first of the state’s witnesses are expected Wednesday morning.
If convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact, Coleman could receive two to 20 years in prison. If found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child, Coleman faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
