A jury has been seated in the perjury trial of former Windermere Police Chief Daniel Saylor, who's accused of lying under oath while his friend, Scott Bush, was on trial last year for child rape.
Five women and two men from Orange County began hearing opening statements Tuesday afternoon.
Saylor was first arrested in 2011 for covering up a child sexual battery case against Bush. He pleaded no contest to the charges, and Bush was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2013.
The same day Bush was sentenced, Saylor was arrested again, accused of providing false testimony during Bush's trial.
The former police chief said under oath that the case was "turned over to the state Attorney's Office in Orange County and the Sheriff's Office Sex Crimes unit." He went on to tell the jury that those agencies "concurred in closing the case" against Bush.
In court Tuesday, Judge Jennifer Davis told the jury the burden of proof was on the state.
"That means the defense can sit at the table throughout the next two days and do absolutely nothing, and simply rely on the argument that the state has not met the burden of proof, because the defense has no burden of proof," Davis explained.
If convicted, Saylor could face up to 15 years behind bars.