HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — A jury was formed on Monday to deliberate on several serious child sexual abuse charges filed against a couple from Blair County. William John Stonebraker, 55, and Marie Louis Stonebraker, 43, are set to face a joint jury trial beginning October 14 at the local courthouse.
The couple is up against multiple felony charges across two separate cases each, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children, and aggravated indecent assault. Despite the severity of the allegations, both individuals remain out on bail as their cases continue to unfold.
Judge Richard A. Lewis III, who is overseeing the proceedings, selected a jury comprising 12 individuals—six men and six women—along with four alternates to hear the accusations brought forward by state police. During jury selection, potential jurors faced inquiries from the judge and attorneys about their prior knowledge of the case and their ability to remain impartial.
None of the jurors indicated familiarity with the Stonebraker case. However, several expressed concerns about their ability to remain unbiased after being informed of the nature of the allegations, which included details about a victim under the age of 16 and another under 13. Additionally, the jury learned about a charge involving the intimidation of a witness against Marie Stonebraker.
Jurors who conveyed uncertainties about their impartiality were questioned individually by Judge Lewis and the attorneys, leading to the dismissal of those individuals. The panel was assessed on whether they had any connections to the attorneys involved or specific case details.
As the trial approaches, the community remains attentive to the seriousness of the charges and the judicial process regarding this couple. The upcoming days are expected to offer more information as the trial unfolds.
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