Trial began yesterday for a man accused of sexually abusing children as jury selection finished.

Jury selection concluded Monday as a trial began for a man accused of sexually abusing children.

Opening statements were made in the child sex abuse trial involving Paul Voltz. Three victims are alleging Voltz of three different types of crime including seven counts of rape.

Voltz is also facing two counts of pandering obscenities and two counts of gross sexual imposition.

He was a former local teacher, but none of the charges in the trial stem from his work as an educator.

Jury selection wrapped up just before noon inside Judge Michelle Miller’s courtroom. And the prosecution made their opening remarks around 1 p.m.

“These young people will struggle to pinpoint dates and years when the abuse happened. You’ll hear testimony that is not uncommon with survive what has happened to them.”

Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin

According to the indictment, the alleged sex crimes date back to the late 1990s. At the time victims ages were 3 and 7.