Jurors were selected Tuesday and trial was to get underway today in Mingo County Circuit Court for a 61-year-old Dingess man charged with three counts of sexual abuse.

Lewis Allen Sheppard, who is represented by Logan Attorney Bernard Spaulding, was scheduled for trial in connection with the alleged felonious engagement in sexual contact on three children.

The victims were each less than 12 years of age at the time of the first degree sexual abuse in or about April 2007. Sheppard was said to be 18 years of age or more at the time of the violations.

Sheppard was indicted by the January 2009 grand jury upon information provided by a Child Protective Service Worker. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Teresa H. Maynard is representing the state in the trial.

Chief Judge Michael Thornsbury is presiding in the trial. He also meted out two prison sentences Tuesday on drug charges contained in indictments returned in January and April of this year.

Natasha Marie Block 24, of Kermit, was sentenced to serve one to five years in a state correctional facility and fined $1,000. She also was assessed standard fees and costs and given credit for time already served in confinement while awaiting court action.

Block pleaded guilty Aug. 3 to conspiring to deliver a Schedule III controlled substance, Hydrocodone, which was Count II of her April indictment.

Jo Ann Cline, 61, of Wharncliffe, also received a prison sentence of one to five years on her Aug. 3 plea of guilty to conspiring to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, Oxycodone.

Cline also was assessed standard feees and court costs and received credit for time already served in confinement. She was represented by Charleston Attorney Phillip Sword.

Assistant Mingo Prosecutor Glen Rutledge appeared for the state in the Block and Cline proceedings.