Jury selection in trial of former Warren County teacher accused of touching students

LEBANON, Ohio (WKRC) - A jury was selected in the trial for a former Springboro gym teacher accused of inappropriately touching more than two dozen first-grade girls. John Austin Hopkins faces 36 counts of gross sexual imposition. The prosecution began building its case by questioning Hopkins' own credibility. “'I only do side hugs...sometimes high fives.' That's what the defendant told a detective when he was confronted with information that he was under investigation for sexually inappropriate contact with the young girls in his gym class,” Julie Kraft, the assistant prosecutor, said. Prosecutors not only played part of Hopkins' interrogation tapes, but also videos that show a little girl straddling Hopkins with her arms around his neck and his hands rubbing her back. “Due to their young age and the manipulation of this man, they had no idea that what he was doing was inappropriate, that it was sexual and that it was for his gratification,” Kraft said. Meanwhile, Hopkins' attorney David Chicarelli believes the charges should be dropped because he says his client didn't do anything Santa Claus wouldn't do when a child is on his lap. He adds surveillance video doesn't show any criminal behavior. “Although a picture and a video can say a 1,000 words, it cannot tell you what’s in the mind,” Chicarelli said. “This case is the story of a 25-year-old sexually naive, autistic virgin that has dedicated his entire life to the care and education of children. Chicarelli said Hopkins suffers from autism and the jury will have a chance to hear from three psychologists who allegedly went through all the video footage, all of which the defense says will cast doubt on the prosecution's claim that Hopkins' primary motive was sexual gratification. The trial will resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. where evidence will be shown. At least four children will be testifying along with 23 parents.