FLORIDA
WPBT
[with video]
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —A jury has been seated in the sexual molestation trial against former Rosarian Academy teacher Stephen Budd.
Both sides are questioning a pool of potential jurors in the Stephen Budd sexual molestation trial which began Tuesday. Budd, 53, was a fourth grade teacher at Rosarian Academy in 2006-2007 when two former students now say he coerced them into performing sex acts on him and each other, in exchange for “Budd Bucks.”WPBF 25 News at Noon
He’s accused of serially molesting two 9 year olds in his classroom in 2006-07.
His attorney, Jason Weiss, asked potential jurors if they were so appalled by the charges that they could not be fair.
“Is there something so awful or distasteful in your mind, that the mere accusation against Mr. Budd makes you think that he’s probably guilty?” asked Weiss.
Some in the pool answered that they did have problems with the charges and could not be impartial.
Budd is accused of having the girls perform sex acts on him under his desk while he taught, taking naked pictures of the girls and having them perform sexual acts on each other.
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