LIBERTY, Texas (AP) — One of more than a dozen men and boys accused in the repeated sexual assault of an 11-yearold Texas girl escaped from the courthouse during a break in his trial after the child tearfully testified and jurors watched a video showing one of the alleged assaults.

Eric McGowen, 20, is the first of 14 adults to face trial, accused of sexually assaulting the girl during three months in 2010. Six juveniles also are charged in the attacks in Cleveland, a small town about 45 miles northeast of Houston.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys huddled briefly with Judge Mark Morefield after McGowen failed to return to the courtroom in nearby Liberty following an afternoon break Wednesday.

Morefield said a bench warrant had been issued and that the trial would go on without McGowen. Bail was increased from $35,000 to $250,000.

Defense attorney Matthew Poston and prosecutors did not comment on McGowen’s disappearance because of a gag order. The Liberty County Sheriff ’s Office had no update early today on whether the suspect had been found.

McGowen is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The girl, testifying using a pseudonym, told jurors about two incidents, one in October 2010 and one the following month, in which she said McGowen and several other men and boys took turns sexually assaulting her while recording the encounters on video.

The girl briefly broke down in tears as jurors were shown a few minutes of video of an alleged October 2010 sexual assault in a house in Cleveland where she and the defendants lived.

The girl, who was 11 at the time, said she was brought into what she described as the “baby room,” and that McGowen and others took turns sexually assaulting her. She said the video, which several jurors turned away from, was of her being assaulted by another man charged in the case.

“Did the guys just take turns with you?” prosecutor Joe Warren asked.

“Yes, sir,” the girl said.