Impartial jury selection a challenge in child pornography trial

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Jorge Guerrero

FORT MYERS, Fla. Selecting an impartial jury for Jorge Guerrero’s child pornography trial has proven to be a challenge.

Guerrero has been the prime suspect in the disappearance of nine-year-old Diana Alvarez for nearly a year. The majority of potential jurors said on Thursday they have seen flyers with Diana’s face in their neighborhoods.

Criminal defense attorney Doug Molloy stressed how important it is to find jurors who are unbiased.

“The reason I think jury selection is going to be the most difficult is because of the impact and that’s never to be underestimated, but it is their job,” Molloy said. “That’s the main reason why you need to be a fair and impartial juror, so you can say ‘Yes I see that, but is he guilty, did he do it, and did the government meet those elements?'”

Guerrero is accused of possessing lewd images of Alvarez, and had disclosed their sexual relationship on court interrogation videos, which prosecutors will have access to during trial.

However, prosecutors are prohibited from mentioning Guerrero as a suspect in her disappearance and cannot mention Guerrero’s whereabouts on the night of her disappearance.

Jury selection is scheduled to continue through Friday.

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