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Thursday, August 4, 2016
Crime / Election 2016 McAllister Sex Assault Trial Postponed as Election Nears
Posted
By Terri Hallenbeck
on Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Sen. Norm McAllister won’t be in court watching jury selection on primary election day after all.
The Franklin County representative’s sexual assault trial has been postponed from next week, a court clerk said Thursday.
The prosecutor requested the delay for family health reasons, said McAllister’s son, Heath, who added that the senator isn’t happy about the change in schedule. A new trial date hasn't been set but is likely to be sometime in late fall, his son said.
“We wanted it done. We’ve wanted it done all along,” Heath McAllister said. The senator found out about the delay two days ago, his son said.
Deputy State’s Attorney Diane Wheeler and McAllister’s attorney, Brooks McArthur, did not return requests for comment.
McAllister was preparing to face the second of two trials on charges of sexual assault. Prosecutors dismissed the charges in the first trial in June after one day of testimony. His accuser, who worked for McAllister as a farmhand and legislative intern, admitted lying on the stand about a tangential issue.
The second trial, involving allegations that McAllister sexually assaulted another female farmhand, was scheduled to start with jury selection next Tuesday. That’s the same day McAllister is competing in a Republican primary for reelection to the Senate. He is one of three candidates vying for two slots on the November ballot.
The Franklin County representative’s sexual assault trial has been postponed from next week, a court clerk said Thursday.
The prosecutor requested the delay for family health reasons, said McAllister’s son, Heath, who added that the senator isn’t happy about the change in schedule. A new trial date hasn't been set but is likely to be sometime in late fall, his son said.
“We wanted it done. We’ve wanted it done all along,” Heath McAllister said. The senator found out about the delay two days ago, his son said.
Deputy State’s Attorney Diane Wheeler and McAllister’s attorney, Brooks McArthur, did not return requests for comment.
McAllister was preparing to face the second of two trials on charges of sexual assault. Prosecutors dismissed the charges in the first trial in June after one day of testimony. His accuser, who worked for McAllister as a farmhand and legislative intern, admitted lying on the stand about a tangential issue.
The second trial, involving allegations that McAllister sexually assaulted another female farmhand, was scheduled to start with jury selection next Tuesday. That’s the same day McAllister is competing in a Republican primary for reelection to the Senate. He is one of three candidates vying for two slots on the November ballot.
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About The Author
Terri Hallenbeck
Bio:
Terri Hallenbeck was a Seven Days staff writer covering politics, the Legislature and state issues from 2014 to 2017.
Terri Hallenbeck was a Seven Days staff writer covering politics, the Legislature and state issues from 2014 to 2017.
