5:15 P.M. UPDATE:
Jurors have been seated as the sexual-assault trial of dentist Dr. Jose Turcios now enters its opening-statement phase.
The jury of 12 — 6 men and 6 women — was finalized about 5:10 p.m. after hours of questioning from a potential jury pool in rounds.
Two alternates, both men, were also selected Wednesday. Another alternate candidate, visibly ill after being chosen, was excused after telling the court that he was experiencing anxiety.
The potential jurors were questioned by the prosecution and defense on their views regarding a number of topics such as their opinions of dentists, reactions to dental work, belief in the justice system and the capability of a child to lie.
Candidates were also asked whether they had been given nitrous oxide during dentist visits.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
— Brandon Riddle
3:40 P.M. UPDATE:
Jury selection continued Wednesday afternoon in the trial of a Little Rock dentist accused of molesting a patient in March 2015.
Dr. Jose Turcios is charged with second-degree sexual assault in the case. He pleaded innocent to that count, a class B felony, in January, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
When court went into recess shortly before 3:25 p.m., three women and five men remained in the jury box after questioning in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
Out of a set of 12 potential jurors Wednesday afternoon, six were excused. Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen then called six additional jury candidates, of which one was excused and another called in.
By the end of that round of jury selection, two were allowed to stay.
Additional potential jurors were expected to be called after a 15-minute recess.
The trial is set to continue through Friday, according to court records.
Check back with ArkansasOnline for updates and read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
— Brandon Riddle
EARLIER:
The trial of a Little Rock dentist accused of sexually assaulting a minor patient began with jury selection Wednesday morning.
Dr. Jose Turcios' trial in District Judge Wendell Griffen's courtroom began at 9 a.m. Turcios is being represented by Little Rock attorney Bill James.
Dozens of potential witnesses, including Turcios and KARK/Fox 16 reporter Hillary Hunt, were named for the jury pool.
About half of the potential jurors stood when asked if they had seen media coverage about accusations that Turcios groped a patient while she was sedated.
Check back with ArkansasOnline for updates on this developing story and read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
— John Moritz