Jury selection is set to begin April 1 in the child molestation case against William Terry MacDonald. Pre-trial motions in the case took place earlier this week.

MacDonald, 64, of Hornitos, has been awaiting trial in the Mariposa County Jail since he was arrested last summer. He was originally charged with 17 felonies, with special circumstances for multiple victims and substantial sexual contact. The crimes were reported to have happened from December, 1991 to December, 2008. There are two victims named in the complaint.

During MacDonald’s preliminary hearing in August, 2009, one of the victims, now 23, took the stand during the hearing. The clearly emotional young woman avoided eye contact with the defendant, even though she sat just feet away from him.

The victim told the court the molestation began when she was in first grade and continued until she was in seventh grade. When asked why she didn’t tell someone, the victim answered, “I was scared that no one would believe me.” The victim told prosecutors that her sister had made a similar accusation and was not believed.

The young woman said the assaults continued, becoming more frequent and more serious as time went on. Sometimes, she said, the abuse went on four times a week. She finally threatened to tell someone. Then she threatened to kill him.

MacDonald is in custody on $1.3 million bail. Prosecutors expect to begin argument in the case next week.