ABILENE, TX — The trial of former Abilene youth pastor Jeffrey Forrest begins Monday with the voir dire and jury selection.
KTXS has been following Forrest’s case for several years.
2015
In April, Law enforcement arrested Jeffrey Winston Forrest at his home in Denton County on a warrant out of Taylor County for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Before leaving Abilene, Forrest had been involved in children and other youth groups at various Abilene area churches and camps.
He was released the same day he was arrested after posting a $100,000 bond.
The complaint said the boy didn’t tell his father about the abuse until nearly two decades later.
At the time, Abilene Police said they identified at least three possible victims.
2016
A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Nobody, including his lawyers, knew where Forrest was.
Investigators believed Forrest went to Mexico and assumed a new identity.
The trail went cold for several years.
2020
They offered a reward of up to $25,000 dollars.
Weeks before, the former youth pastor was spotted at a Walmart in Mexico.He was extradited to Mexico and brought back to the Taylor County Jail.
Without the attention from the TV show “In Pursuit with John Walsh” and his placement on the US Marshall’s 15 most wanted fugitives list, investigators believed Forrest’s capture would not have been possible.
A mother who claimed her son was assaulted by Forrest in the 90s drove four hours from her home in Amarillo to the Taylor County Jail after learning he was caught.
Forrest is in the Taylor County Jail charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, bail jumping, and failure to appear in court.
He’s being held on a $3 million dollar bond and a federal hold, which means he won’t be released even if he posts bail.
2021
Forrest’s trial begins on April 12, according to court records.
