Trial For Rutledge Postponed Until July

The trial for Richard Lamar Rutledge, 47, Culbertson, has been rescheduled for July.

Rutledge is facing two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of incest. The trial was scheduled to start March 15.

“I think there’s a good chance we will have a normal trial if we wait that long,” Defense attorney Matthew Claus said of changing the dates to July.

With social distancing being a concern, District Judge David Cybulski noted that jury selection could be conducted on several days instead of just one day.

July 14-16 were scheduled for jury selection. The trial will then begin the week of July 19.

During a hearing in January, Claus said that he doesn’t want a COVID trial but rather a more traditional trial setting.

The attorneys have said they each plan to have several expert witnesses. Parties feel the trial will last five days.