Jury seated in Assad trial

The trial for Jason Assad began Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, a jury to hear the case was seated.

Assad faces numerous charges including terroristic threatening, kidnapping and domestic assault, stemming from an arrest last fall.

Assad was arrested last fall at the El Palomino Motel in Sidney, a business he co-owned at the time.

The arrest stemmed from an alleged altercation at the property that occurred on Sept. 14, 2014.

Sidney Police officers responded to the motel for a report of an argument and a woman screaming, according to court documents. Unable to make contact with Assad, police obtained a search warrant.

In a subsequent search of the premises, officers found a female in the office with two black eyes, court documents state. Surveillance equipment was also discovered. After police obtained a search warrant for the footage, they saw a recording of Assad placing a knife near the victim’s head, according to court documents.