Jury Selected in Attempted Sexual Assault Case

A jury of nine men and three women was selected on Monday in the Anderson County district court of Judge Deborah Oakes Evans in the trial of Meliton Hernandez, age 52, Palestine.    Mr. Hernandez is charged with attempted sexual assault alleged to have occurred on July 6, 2008.

The indictment returned by the grand jury accuses Mr. Hernandez of attempted sexual assault of female victim, age 38 by exposing her breasts and pulling at her pants with the intent to commit a sexual assault.

The case was investigated by Anderson County Sheriff’s Deputy John Wright who arrested Mr. Hernandez on the date of the alleged crime.   Mr. Hernandez has been free on bond since July 7, 2008 and was indicted by an Anderson Count Grand Jury on March 18, 2009

Attempted Sexual Assault is a Third Degree Felony which has a range of punishment of 2 to 10 years in prison.     Probation can be recommended by the jury for any prison time assessed.

Assistant District Attorney Scott Holden is representing the State of Texas and local attorney Jeff Herrington represents Mr. Hernandez.    The prosecution is part of District Attorney Doug Lowe’s Violence Against Women Act program aimed at prosecuting crimes against women who are targeted as victims because of their sex.

The trial is expected to conclude this week.