Jury selection got underway Wednesday in St. Louis County for Yahya Maly, the Ballwin man accused of a string of sexual assaults that authorities say took place over a two-year span at his apartment. Court officials called roughly 120 potential jurors to the county courthouse as the case moved toward trial. Maly remains jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond while prosecutors pursue felony charges tied to multiple alleged victims. Investigators say the alleged assaults occurred at his Ballwin apartment between early 2023 and early 2025.
According to KSDK, the pool of potential jurors was summoned Wednesday morning in advance of the formal panel selection. The station reported that voir dire, the process where attorneys question potential jurors about possible bias and overall suitability, began as lawyers started the slow work of narrowing down the group.
Charges and indictment
Prosecutors have pursued multiple felony counts against Maly following a grand jury return last year, including charges of rape, sodomy, kidnapping and assault, according to First Alert 4 / KMOV. The outlet reported that the grand jury action increased the total number of charges and that investigators believe additional victims may exist.
Investigators' timeline and appeal
St. Louis County detectives say the alleged attacks span about two years and that some victims were choked or held against their will, per Spectrum Local News. The outlet also reported that police released timelines and photos while urging anyone who thinks they may have been targeted to contact investigators.
What comes next
Court records and local reporting show a trial date set for the first week of April, with prosecutors listing nearly 20 potential witnesses, as KMOV reported. A judge previously refused to lower Maly's $500,000 cash-only bond, and he remains in custody after that hearing, which was covered by KFVS.
Community response
The case has drawn sustained attention from law enforcement and local media as prosecutors and police continue to ask potential victims to come forward. With jury selection now underway, attorneys are expected to spend the coming days vetting jurors before opening statements move the case into trial.
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