Former Rosarian Elementary School Teacher's Trial Begins

By Brian Entin
WPTV
May 26, 2015

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/stephen-budd-former-rosarian-elementary-school-teachers-trial-begins

[with video]

Former Rosarian Elementary School teacher Stephen Budd's trial started Tuesday with pretrial motions.

A 21-year-old woman testified about her abuse allegations involving Budd from nearly 15 years ago at a different school.

"I have a very specific memory of Rugrats playing and me sitting on his lap and he would ask me to lift my skirt," the former student said.

She said Budd touched her private area in exchange for candy.

The judge will decide whether her testimony will be allowed during the trial.

Budd is accused of molesting two elementary school-age children at Rosarian Academy.

According to police reports, he would give the student "Budd Bucks" which was usually candy.

He was arrested in April 2013.

Jury selection in the trial is expected to start Tuesday afternoon.

It could take longer than usual because of the nature of the charges.

"These are very tough cases and they evoke a lot of sympathy in the mind of the jury, so it is difficult to find a jury that will have an open mind," Channel 5 legal analyst Michelle Suskauer said.

Opening arguments are expected on Wednesday afternoon.