Jury selection for the trial of a former Summit Middle School gym teacher accused of sexual assault continued for a second day Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Leonard Grams, 62, has pleaded not guilty to five Class 4 felony charges of sexual assault on a child and three Class 3 felony charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, according to court records. His trial is expected to last two weeks.

Turnout remained low Tuesday. Two-hundred potential jurors were sent a summons to appear for jury duty, but about 80 showed up. However, the lackluster turnout had been anticipated, with Deputy District Attorney Lauren Crisera asking in August that the jury summons be upped from 250 to 400 people. A total of 450 jury summons were eventually sent out.

The charges Grams faces stem from allegations of sexual contact raised in the fall of 2021 by three middle school students who had classes with him, according to an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant filed in the case. 

The school district placed Grams on leave in October 2021. Police arrested him last year on Aug. 9, 2022, and he submitted his resignation to the school on Aug. 31, 2022.

The jury will consist of 12 jurors and two alternates, Judge Karen Romeo said Monday.

The jury selection process is expected to enter a third and final day Wednesday.