Trial of Disgraced Nolanville Mayor to Begin Monday

The trial of former Nolanville Mayor Charlie Lee Stewart begins today. Stewart faces life in prison if convicted of the continuous sexual abuse of a child.

The charge stems from allegations that Stewart repeatedly raped a 12-year-old girl in 2011, and court documents indicate that she has not been Stewart’s only victim. The prosecution plans to present evidence that Stewart has a long history of sexually abusing children. They say four other people have come forward with allegations of abuse, including a victim who says Stewart molested her in 1988 and 1989, then threatened to kill her should she tell anyone.

Another victim alleges Stewart raped her in 1990, and yet another says she was assaulted in 1990 and 1991. Stewart was convicted of child fondling in Natchez, Mississippi in 1991.

A fourth victim may have been assaulted in 2003 or 2004. Stewart allegedly contacted that victim from jail, asking her to recant her statement to police.

Stewart served as mayor of Nolanville for just over two years before his arrest in July of 2012. His arrest came after his latest known victim told her mother about the abuse. That victim is not expected to testify, but prosecutors intend to call her mother to the stand to describe the alleged abuse.