A mostly female jury has been chosen to hear the trial of a former legislator charged with sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl.
Former state Rep. James Thomas is charged with sexually abusing a female student at Wilcox-Central High School. Thomas was the school's principal at the time of the alleged incident in 2010.
It took about four hours Monday for prosecutors and defense attorneys to select the jury. Wilcox County District Attorney Michael Jackson said the jury is expected to begin hearing testimony Wednesday.
The 69-year-old Thomas, of Selma, served 28 years in the Alabama Legislature representing Dallas, Wilcox, Lowndes and Autauga counties. He was defeated in the Democratic primary in 2010.
Jackson said he expects the trial will take one or two days. The victim is expected to testify.
