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Sam Penrod ReportingTrial began today for a man accused of trying to kidnap a Provo girl a year and a half ago.
Jimmy Guard first made headlines almost two years ago, after he was arrested in Springville on suspicion of trying to abduct two young girls. Then in November of 2004, a Provo girl picked him out of a photo lineup and said he was the man who tried to kidnap her when she was walking home from school.
Today, Candie McBride, now in 5th grade, took the witness stand to recount what happened back on November 15th of 2004. McBride described how a man came from behind her and tried to abduct her. She fought back, using what she learned in the RAD KIDS program, a self-defense course for children, taught in the schools.
The next day detectives gave her photos of possible suspects and she picked Guard out of the pictures. Guard's attorney is trying to raise doubt with the jury about who the kidnapper really was and if the victim is sure that she picked the right man as the suspect.
At the time of the attempted kidnapping, Guard was out on bail in the Springville case. The jury will not hear about the Springville case, where Guard is accused of trying to get two girls to get in his car. Inside his car, authorities found several sexually oriented items. That case has still not gone to trial.
More witnesses will be called tomorrow and it is likely the jury will begin deliberating on the evidence on Wednesday.
