NEW BOSTON, Texas -- Opening statements and testimony are expected to begin Wednesday morning in the trial of a Texarkana man accused of fathering a child with an underage girl.
Additional charges involving two other alleged teen victims are pending against Christopher Jeff Langston, 47, but the state has chosen to proceed first on charges involving a girl who allegedly gave birth to Langston's child. The alleged victim in the case for which Langston is being tried this week was allegedly abused beginning when she was 11 or 12 in late 2013.
He allegedly bought her food, clothing and ice cream and told her they would someday marry.
"The defendant attempted to pay (the alleged victim) to not talk to the district attorney's office," states a notice filed by the state in Langston's case.
Langston allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with a second underage victim in September 2012 when the girl was 11 or 12 years old. The abuse allegedly continued until the girl was 14. Langston allegedly gave the girl money in exchange for sexual contact.
Langston allegedly sexually abused a third girl in 2019 when she was 14. His abuse of the third alleged victim reportedly continued until February 2020, around the time when Langston was taken into Bowie County custody on charges involving the girl who has a child. At the time of his arrest, Langston was on parole for a drug-related offense in Texas.
Langston faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted of sexual assault. He could face enhanced punishment ranges on the charges because of prior felony convictions.
Opening statements and testimony are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston before 102nd District Judge Jeff Addison. A jury of five women and seven men was chosen Tuesday to decide the case.