Trial begins for Sheldon man accused of sex crimes against children

In the Circuit Courtroom at the Vernon County Courthouse, jury selection and video depositions took up the first day of the trial of Stephen Hart on child molestation charges, in a case presided over by 28th Circuit Presiding Judge James Bickel.

Hart is charged with two counts of child molestation of two girls, ages 10 and 12 at the time of the alleged molestation.

A total of 52 potential jurors were summoned to the courthouse to hear the case and after the prosecutor and defense struck off 25 for cause and six each preemptory challenges the jury was whittled down to 12 jurors plus one alternate.

Hart is represented by Ross Rhoades and prosecuted by Vernon County Prosecutor Lynn Ewing III.

The testimony Thursday consisted of three videotaped depositions with the defense attorney and prosecutor taking turns asking questions of the two minors. Two of the depositions were of the older minor and one of the younger. The prosecution also presented two videotaped interviews from June 2007 that were conducted at the Children's Center, one from each of the children involved in the incidents which allegedly took place in 2006.

The case continues Friday starting at 8:30 a.m.