BELTON (June 16, 2009)-Testimony is set to begin today in the trial of a former Bell County youth baseball coach who is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child.

William Thomas Jacobsen, 32, formerly of Little River-Academy, is set to face his accusers in Belton’s 27th State District Court.

Jacobsen is accused of sexually abusing at least two young boys under the law that was first instituted in September 2007.

If convicted Jacobsen could face a minimum sentence of 25 years to a maximum of life in state prison.

Opening arguments are scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. today in Judge Joe Carroll’s court, after which the jury will begin to hear testimony.

The initial allegations surfaced in June 2008 after a 13-year-old boy was examined at Scott and White Hospital, in Temple.

The boy reported Jacobsen had sexual contact with him at Jacobsen’s home on County Line Rd., near Rogers.

A second victim – a 14-year-old – added additional charges against Jacobsen in October 2008 and from that charge grew the continuous sexual abuse charge.

Jacobsen had been in the area for about a year before the charges arose.

Jacobsen and his common law wife, Marilyn Wesson, 58, fled Bell County after an initial interview with law enforcement officers.

The two were fugitives for 50 days before being captured in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on August 9, 2008.

Jacobsen fought extradition back to Central Texas but three weeks after his arrest on the border, he was booked into the Bell County Jail.

Wesson was extradited to Bell County only three days after her arrest on a charge of hindering apprehension.

Se is scheduled July 22 for trial before the court.