20 Year Old Defendant In Texas Rape Trial Escapes – Trial Resumes Without Him

LIBERTY, Texas (AP) — Testimony has resumed without the defendant present in the first trial over the alleged sexual assault of a Texas middle school girl by 20 men and boys over several months two years ago.

Judge Mark Morefield said today that 20-year-old Eric McGowen's trial will continue even though he hasn't been seen since disappearing during a break in testimony Wednesday, the trial's first day.

McGowen had been free on $35,000 bail. Morefield issued a bench warrant for his arrest and increased his bail to $250,000.

McGowen is among 14 adults accused of sexually assaulting the then-11-year-old girl during a nearly three-month span in 2010. Six juveniles also were charged.

The trial resumed with testimony from a forensic nurse examiner who examined the girl.