WILKES-BARRE — The Luzerne County trial of Jack P. Covert, 65, for multiple child sex offenses is set to begin with opening statements on Wednesday morning.
Covert, who lives on Second Street in Dallas Township, has been charged multiple times by Dallas Township police since he was first arrested in November 2020. Police suspected there might be more victims at the time of his initial arrest, leading to additional charges in 2021 and 2022.
Covert is accused of sexually assaulting at least seven girls and having child sexual abuse materials, according to court records.
According to court records, several girls who are now adults reported being sexually assaulted by Covert in the 1990s, including during a trip to Florida in 1993.
Covert's trial has been postponed multiple times while he struggled with court-appointed attorneys.
Reviewing Covert's court records shows that he has been represented by seven attorneys, either from the county’s Conflict Office or the Public Defender’s Office.
Judge David W. Lupas is overseeing Covert’s trial.
Jury selection started on Monday and concluded on late Tuesday afternoon.
Covert is being tried on a total of multiple counts of indecent assault, corruption of minors, possessing child pornography, aggravated indecent assault, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, as well as criminal attempts to commit statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.