Trial to Begin for Air Force Sergeant on Sex Assault Charges

A military trial is scheduled to begin for an Air Force technical sergeant who fled Illinois to avoid a trial on child sexual assault charges.

David Lawrence Helm faces a court-martial beginning Monday.

He's accused of sexually assaulting a girl between the ages of 12 and 16 at several locations in 2013 and 2014, including at Illinois' Scott Air Force Base and in Tennessee. A woman also was allegedly assaulted at Scott Air Force Base and in Dayton, Ohio.

Helm was declared a fugitive in early June after missing his scheduled trial. He was arrested in Nevada 10 days later and charged with desertion.

Helm said he fled to go skydiving and drive a high-performance race car. He reportedly was headed to California when he was arrested.