FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Authorities are searching for a man who left court during his sex abuse trial in Fort Worth and never returned.
A Tarrant County sheriff’s office spokesman says authorities continued to search for 34-year-old Jayson Neal Sparks on Friday, two days after he left his trial.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Sparks testified in his defense Wednesday. The judge then called a lunch break. Sparks, who was free on bail, left the courtroom.
Defense attorney Patrick Curran said his client returned from lunch but then excused himself to make a phone call – but never returned. Curran says, “It’s difficult for everyone involved.”
Sparks was found guilty Wednesday afternoon of one count of continuous sex abuse of a child under 14. He was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison.
