ANSON, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A mistrial has been declared during the trial of a former Anson police chief facing several child sex crime charges.

The Jones County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the mistrial was declared during day three of the trial for Patrick Neal Hawthorne, 46, on Thursday afternoon.

The circumstances surrounding the mistrial declaration are currently unclear. KTAB and KRBC are working to get more information. Check back for updates on this developing story.

Hawthorne was standing trial for one count of Trafficking a Person, two counts of Sexual Assault of a Child, and two counts of Indecency with a Child.

Court documents say Hawthorne is facing the charges because he, “received sexual gratification from participating in a venture with William Elmer Pettijohn that involved the trafficking of a person under the age of 18” in October of 2014.

He’s also accused of sexually assaulting the teen, “engaging in sexual contact” with the teen, and exposing himself in front of the teen in October and November of 2014, according to the documents.

Hawthorne was arrested in Florida after he was indicted on all five charges in May of 2015.

His alleged accomplice, William Elmer Pettijohn, was arrested and taken into custody in Belize the same month.

Hawthorne served as Anson’s Chief of Police from 2008-2010.