LIBERTY (August 29, 2012)--An arrest warrant was being issued Wednesday after a man on trial on charges stemming from the repeated sexual assault of a Texas girl didn't return to court after a break.
Testimony continued Wednesday in the trial of Eric McGowen, 20, despite his absence.
State District Judge Mark Morefield was drafting a bench warrant for McGowen's arrest, a court official said.
McGowen didn't come back after an afternoon break after the testimony of two co-defendants who pleaded guilty in the case.
One said he didn't see McGowen have sex with the girl, but did see him sexually assault her.
The other said he never saw McGowen sexually assault the girl.
McGowen is one of 20 men and boys accused in attacks on the girl, who’s now 13.
The girl told jurors Wednesday that McGowen took her to a house in the town of Cleveland in October 2010 where she had sex with multiple males.
Authorities say the girl was assaulted at least five times.
The girl cried while prosecutors played a video of one of the attacks.
Two men and all six juveniles have pleaded guilty in the case.
