Jury selection begins for trial of former Wewoka middle school principal.

WEWOKA, Okla. (KFOR) - The trial for a former Wewoka youth pastor and middle school principal is underway in Seminole County.

Sitting in a white shirt and blue tie, Cody Barlow prepared for his state criminal case while people waited outside the courtroom during jury selection.

Barlow, 35, is facing two counts of indecent acts and four counts of indecent proposals to a child under 16. Attorneys said there are three victims.

The former principal of Wewoka Middle School has already faced a federal civil trial involving four. The nearly $2 million settlement was reached back in April.

"My client and his family's lives have forever been altered," said Ross Leonoudakis, one of the attorneys involved in the civil case.

News 4 is told the allegations in the federal case are the same in the criminal case, which stemmed from an investigation when he was the principal and well known at the First Baptist Church of Wewoka.

"He was a youth minister. He took positions of authority, of trust and responsibility in that community," said Leonoudakis.

News 4 is told the assistant district attorney in Ada is prosecuting this case after prosecutors in Wewoka recused themselves because they knew Barlow from church.

In 2022, investigators said a school counselor walked in on Barlow giving a middle school student a back rub while thrusting on the teen's back. It was reported immediately and he was placed on administrative leave that day.

The lawsuit shows Barlow would allegedly "'play' spank boys on the behind with his hand and a paddle," and "roughhouse" basketball players. They said video recorded by a student shows Barlow putting his hands on a boys thigh or groping them while wrestling. Other details are too graphic to share.

"It's unconscionable about what happened and what we believe those around Cody Barlow allowed to happen," said Leonoudakis.