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Jury selection begins in Monica Cluck trial; no jurors chosen yet
By MIRANDA REMAKLUS
mremaklus@paragoulddailypress.com
Jury selection is expected to resume this morning in the case of a former church youth group director accused of having sexual relations with two underage boys.
Monica Cluck, 26, Rector, is on trial for two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
No jurors were chosen Monday due to extensive questioning of the jury panel by attorneys.
During the jury selection process, Prosecuting Attorney Brent Davis asked the prospective jurors about their familiarity with the case, which has received attention in the media.
Davis asked the panel members their feelings about a woman accused of having consensual sexual relations with teenage boys. He asked what their thoughts were if the woman was a trusted caregiver.
He also asked if their feelings would change if the alleged victims were protective of Cluck.
Davis also asked prospective jurors their thoughts of possibly seeing a surveillance tape set up by Cluck’s former husband which shows Cluck interacting with the boys as well as having sexual relations with them.
According to probable cause information on the case, in August 2007, Greene County Sheriff’s investigators became aware of the allegations against Cluck after Cluck’s husband, Jeffery, approached them with video taped evidence of her alleged transgressions.
In one instance, Monica was involved with a 17-year-old male who was a member of the Singing Hands group at Marmaduke First Baptist Church. of which Monica was the director. The 17-year-old told investigators the two had intercourse on numerous occasions including several times at her home while her husband was gone. He told investigators she gave him alcohol as well.
After she was arrested for this incident Aug. 7, 2007, she asked investigators which person she was being accused of sexually assaulting.
On Aug. 9, 2007, Cluck was arrested for her sexual involvement with a 15-year-old male, who is now 16. He was also a member of the church youth group.
He told investigators that their relationship began at the end of 2006, and ended in May 2007. The young man admitted to having sexual involvement with her numerous times. He said the incidents happened at her residence, at his residence, in her vehicle on various county roads and even in the church on one occasion while their group was having a lock-in.
Monica Cluck, 26, Rector, is on trial for two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
No jurors were chosen Monday due to extensive questioning of the jury panel by attorneys.
During the jury selection process, Prosecuting Attorney Brent Davis asked the prospective jurors about their familiarity with the case, which has received attention in the media.
Davis asked the panel members their feelings about a woman accused of having consensual sexual relations with teenage boys. He asked what their thoughts were if the woman was a trusted caregiver.
He also asked if their feelings would change if the alleged victims were protective of Cluck.
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According to probable cause information on the case, in August 2007, Greene County Sheriff’s investigators became aware of the allegations against Cluck after Cluck’s husband, Jeffery, approached them with video taped evidence of her alleged transgressions.
In one instance, Monica was involved with a 17-year-old male who was a member of the Singing Hands group at Marmaduke First Baptist Church. of which Monica was the director. The 17-year-old told investigators the two had intercourse on numerous occasions including several times at her home while her husband was gone. He told investigators she gave him alcohol as well.
After she was arrested for this incident Aug. 7, 2007, she asked investigators which person she was being accused of sexually assaulting.
On Aug. 9, 2007, Cluck was arrested for her sexual involvement with a 15-year-old male, who is now 16. He was also a member of the church youth group.
He told investigators that their relationship began at the end of 2006, and ended in May 2007. The young man admitted to having sexual involvement with her numerous times. He said the incidents happened at her residence, at his residence, in her vehicle on various county roads and even in the church on one occasion while their group was having a lock-in.
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