March Trial Date Set For Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Girl

A Midwest man accused of sexually assault a teenage girl will be put on trial in Natrona County District Court in March, a judge said Thursday.

District Court Judge Daniel Forgey set the March 23 date for Mario Flores during a scheduling conference.

The judge, prosecutor and defense attorney also agreed to meet Jan. 5 to review the progress of the evaluation of biological evidence. Forgey said the biological test results could affect the timing of the trial.

Flores, who was 44 at the time of his arrest, has pleaded not guilty to one count of first degree sexual assault, one count of first degree sexual abuse of a minor, and one count of second degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Investigators with the Midwest Police Department said a girl claimed she was at Flores’ place in August when he started to touch her. When she tried to leave, he locked the front door and continued with what he was doing to her.

When interviewed, Flores initially said the victim was never at his place on the day in question. He then changed his story, but denied ever doing anything to her.

He is being held on $200,000 bond.

If convicted, Flores faces between five and 50 years in prison on the first degree sexual assault charge, between 25 and 50 years on the first degree sexual abuse of a minor charge, and up to 20 years on the second degree sexual abuse of a minor charge.