Jury selection underway in trial of ex-Springboro teacher accused of sex crimes involving students

SPRINGBORO — UPDATE @ 1:05 p.m.: 

Jury selection continues in the trial of Austin Hopkins, the former Springboro gym teacher accused of sexually abusing dozens of first grade girls in class.

>>RELATED: Hopkins trial: Five children may testify in former Springboro teacher’s case

News Center 7’s Molly Koweek remains in the courtroom for the proceedings and we’ll continue to update this story as new developments occur.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 

>>Federal class-action lawsuit filed against former gym teacher, Springboro schools

>>Former Springboro PE teacher accused of sex charges involving 28 female students

>>Springboro PE teacher resigns from 2nd position amid misconduct investigation

>>Parents speak out about daughter’s abuse they say was at the hands of her teacher

FIRST REPORT: 

The trial begins today for Austin Hopkins, the former Springboro teacher facing 36 counts of gross sexual imposition charges involving students.

Hopkins, 25, is facing charges involving 28 first grade girls that were in his gym class at Clearcreek Elementary School in Springboro.

The trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. at Warren County Common Pleas Court in Lebanon.

Last week, Judge Robert Peeler ruled that five of the children could testify during the trial. Four of those children were interviewed by Peeler and were determined competent to testify in court. The fifth child was going to be interviewed prior to today’s start of the trial.

News Center 7 will be in the courtroom for the trial today and we will continue to update this story with developments in the case.