A jury selected in Clay County is hearing evidence this week in the Buchanan County trial of Roderick Ellis.

Ellis faces multiple felony charges in connection with a lengthy standoff with police at the Motel Six about a year ago.

The most serious charge, 1st degree domestic assault, is a class-a felony, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Ellis is accused of kidnapping his former girlfriend Rebecca Urban on October 14, 2015, forcing her at gunpoint to drive to the motel, and then, when she cried for help, shooting her in the arm in front of motel staff.  Investigators said he then forced the woman into a room at the motel for more than 11 hours. The standoff prompted evacuations and lockdowns, and shut down I-29 and Frederick Ave., along with several businesses in the area.

Seven women and seven men were selected in Clay County on Tuesday to serve as jurors and alternates during the trial.  The defense was granted a change of venue because of widespread news coverage of the standoff.

Prosecutor Ron Holliday gave the panel a preview of the story, and pointed out how the evidence would prove each of the five felony counts against Ellis. The defendant is charged with 1st degree domestic assault, kidnapping, assault of a law enforcement officer, and two counts of armed criminal action.

Public Defender Susan Rinne said the incident was about “love and betrayal,” that he believed the victim was being unfaithful. Rinne told the jury Ellis is not guilty of the charges.

“He just wanted to talk to her, and never wanted to hurt hur, never wanted to harm anyone,” she said.

After opening statements from both sides, the victim, Rebecca Urban took the witness stand Wednesday morning.

Urban described for the jury how she had broken up with the defendant, but testified she was threatened by him the night before the standoff. She recounted how she was abducted and later shot in the forearm. She described applying a tourniquet to her arm during the day-long ordeal. And she described the gunshot injuries which still have not properly healed despite two surgeries.

Testimony continues in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Patrick Robb.