Jury selected to hear sex assault trial

A jury of seven men and five women was selected Tuesday afternoon in Cherokee County General Sessions Court to hear allegations a Texas man sexually assaulted two young girls while he lived in Blacksburg from 1999 to 2003.

Joseph Scott Cash, formerly of Kerrville, Texas, faces multiple charges of criminal sexual conduct and lewd act on a minor for allegedly having improper contact with the girls.

Circuit Judge James Lockemy, who is presiding over the case, released the jury Tuesday following jury selections, ordering everyone to return at 1 p.m. Wednesday for opening statements and the start of testimony.

The trial is expected to last two days.

Assistant Seventh Circuit Solicitor Kim Leskanic is prosecuting the case.

Cash is represented by Chief Public Defender Don Thompson.