SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) – The much-anticipated trial of Aaron Thomas began Tuesday with the court bringing in an unusually large number of potential jurors because of the high-profile nature of the case. The former North Kingstown High School basketball coach has pleaded not guilty to seco nd-degree child molestation and second-degree sexual assault. Former student athletes have accused him of convincing them to get completely naked inside his office, where they said he conducted so-called “naked fat tests” on their bodies, over multiple decades. John Calcagni, an attorney for Thomas, said the defense team is open to having Thomas himself testify in the case, although he noted the former coach has no obligation to take the stand and a jury can't hold it against him if he doesn't. "We’ll be looking for jurors that are committed to that important constitutional principle of law," Calcagni said outside Washington County Superior Court. "Whether or not Mr. Thomas takes the stand in this particular case is a strategic decision that will be made a little bit further into the case." Attorneys in the case are expecting to empanel a jury by Friday. Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg, who is presiding over the trial, has scheduled opening statements and first witnesses for Monday. Another defense attorney, John MacDonald, said he expects there will be at least two weeks of testimony, including about 20 witnesses for the prosecution and between five and seven witnesses for the defense. MacDonald acknowledged it's going to be tough finding an impartial jury in South County, where the case is so well-known. He indicated the defense will encourage jurors to focus on the letter of the law rather than whether they view Thomas's behavior as acceptable. "The media exposure on this case and the optics of an adult male coach being alone with students in various stages of dress is something that strikes at the heart of all potential jurors," MacDonald said Tuesday. "The conduct in this case -- many jurors may consider to be inappropriate," he added. "The issue is: was it criminal? And we're here to do everything we can to prove to the jury it was not criminal." Thomas was seen walking in and out court for Tuesday's proceedings. A Target 12 investigation first revealed the scandal in 2021, sparking multiple local, state and federal investigations. The revelation caused upheaval in the community of nearly 30,000 people, leading to several resignations inside the school district and an overhaul of School Committee members. R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office investigated the matter for several months, interviewing dozens of former student athletes who said they went through the naked fat tests. Several said it damaged them emotionally and in some cases caused lifelong trauma. “It’s completely changed my life,” one former student told Target 12 in 2022. “I went through a battle of addiction; he took advantage of me at a vulnerable time when I lost my dad. It was tough.” Thomas was a well-regarded boys basketball coach, leading his high school team to its first-ever state championship in 2019. His lawyers have argued the testing wasn’t sexual in nature, but rather part of a strengthening program designed to improve students’ athletic ability. "Over the years it assisted student athletes and without question is something Mr. Thomas pursued to better his students," MacDonald said about the testing. Former students, however, said the testing was a sham and they didn't receive any follow-up advice. Several physical therapists and strengthening coaches have since said there’s no reason for someone to be naked for such testing, and one former student alleged in court documents that Thomas became aroused during a test. Thomas conducted the tests on hundreds of former students both in the basketball program and other high school sports beginning in the early 1990s. Former students said they were asked to strip down to their underwear inside his office before Thomas would ask if they were "shy or not shy." If the students said they were "not shy," they said he would tell them to take off their underwear before conducting the tests. Former students said they only agreed to the testing regimen because they trusted Thomas and believed it might help them get more playing time on the court. "I didn’t want to be ‘not shy’ because my entire childhood I wanted to play varsity basketball for North Kingstown,” said another former student in 2022. “A lot of my heroes were ex-players that played there; people I looked up to, especially him. I really wanted him to like me, I wanted him to respect me.”   Thomas was quietly placed on leave in early 2021, before the allegations became public, after law enforcement started examining the issue and former student athletes reached out to administrators with allegations. District officials at the time said Thomas was placed on leave because of medical reasons, and the North Kingstown School Committee allowed him to resign from his job rather than be fired at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Nothing was ever said publicly about why he was leaving after nearly three decades on the job. Thomas was then quickly hired at a nearby Catholic school in South Kingstown where administrators said North Kingstown officials never gave them any heads up that there were potential issues with Thomas. The Catholic school promptly suspended and then fired Thomas after Target 12 reached out seeking comment about the allegations as part of its investigation in the fall of 2021.    North Kingstown has grappled with fallout from the Thomas scandal ever since. The district has cycled through several superintendents since then-Superintendent Phil Auger resigned amid community outrage that ensued after the allegations became public. The trial beginning Tuesday is expected to draw widespread interest in South County and elsewhere in the state and region. Potential jurors were expected to respond to questionnaires on Tuesday and Wednesday. A winnowed group of prospective jurors will then be brought back beginning Thursday to be questioned directly by prosecutors and defense attorneys in a process known as "voir dire," which allows the lawyers to decide whether someone can be fair and impartial. MacDonald said Thomas was "relieved" the trial was finally getting underway, noting it's been nearly three years since charges have been filed and even longer since he's been under public scrutiny. "He's looked forward to his day in court and we're happy to be underway," MacDonald said. Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. 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