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Jury selection begins in Manatee kidnapping trial

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Vicente Beltran-Moreno, 24, faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted of abduction charges.

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8

Published: June 1, 2009

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Clay Moore

BRADENTON - Jury selection has begun in the in the kidnapping trial of Vicente Beltran-Moreno, who is accused of tying a 13-year-old boy to a tree and attempting to hold him for ransom.

The victim, Clay Moore, escaped after the Feb. 2007 incident, wriggling free from his bonds and running to safety.

About 140 people remain in the pool of potential jurors. Court officials have told them they expect the trial to last no more than a week.

Lawyers on both sides asked very general questions of the potential jurors this morning.

Clay and his family did not attend today's proceedings. Lawyers for the prosecution and defense declined to comment.

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