Suspects in assaults of Texas girl appear in court


April 4, 2011 at 3:03p.m.

Suspects in assaults of Texas girl appear in court

LIBERTY, Texas (AP) — Three of the 19 people accused of taking part in a series of sexual assaults on an 11-year-old girl in southeast Texas have pleaded not guilty to charges in the case.

The three entered their pleas in court hearings today in Liberty, located near the small town of Cleveland, where authorities say the assaults took place.

Four others who had previously pleaded not guilty were also in court and had their next hearings set for July 6.

Seven others who have been indicted were set to appear in court this afternoon. Five juveniles have also been charged in the case.

Since February, police have arrested individuals ranging from a middle-school student to a 27-year-old, accusing them of sexually assaulting the girl on at least four occasions starting in September.