The trial of a former Lakeland police officer accused of committing armed sexual battery while on duty began Monday with jury selection.
Julio Pagan is charged with two counts of armed sexual battery and one count of armed aggravated stalking. He is accused of coercing a woman to have sex with him at her home while she was drunk and he was on duty last year. He's also accused of repeatedly coming to her home and pressuring her to have sex.
Judge Michael Raiden spoke to potential jurors Monday about whether they could decide the case without being biased by what they may have already heard about the case. Pagan's arrest last year made a lot of news headlines.
Lawyers expect testimony in the case to take two or three days.
Pagan's case happened during the sex scandals that rocked the Lakeland Police Department. Three officers, including a sergeant, were disciplined for the way complaint calls to LPD about Pagan were handled.