The trial of a Wrangell man charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree was moved to early next year in First District Court on Tuesday, Nov. 9 after attorneys asked for additional time to study DNA evidence in the case.
Cody Horner, 18, is accused of illicit sexual contact with a 3-year old girl just prior to the July 4th holiday in Wrangell.
Horner’s trial is now set to begin Feb. 21, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. in Wrangell. A calendar call for managing the trial, which is expected to last 4-5 days, is set for Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in First District Court.
During the Nov. 9 hearing, Sitka-based public defender Michael Pate asked Judge William B. Carey to move the trial’s start date to early February in order to give the defense a chance to review screening of DNA related to the alleged offense by Horner.
“It could be determinative of how we proceed,” Pate said.
According to regional district attorney Jean Seaton, who is also from Sitka, the DNA in question has already been through the screening process but her office did not oppose the continuance of the trial’s start date.
Horner also waived his right to a speedy trial in the continuance under Rule 45 of the Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure for the time between September and November.
Horner is currently being held in the Ketchikan Correctional Facility on $100,000 bond.
Reader Comments(0)