New Trial Date Set For Rutledge

By Bill Vander Weele

A new trial date has been set in the case of Richard Rutledge.

During a scheduling hearing in October, attorneys agreed to have Rutledge taken to the state hospital for a full mental evaluation.

Since that time, a trial was tentatively set for March. Because of the amount of discovery and that the defense just recently added a co-counselor, the trial was moved to the week of July 18 during a scheduling hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

When asked by District Judge David J. Cybulski, Rutledge said he approves of the delay.

“You realize that it’s dragging on, that it’s nearly making the record books,” Cybulski said of the trial postponements. “I also don’t want to push it if you don’t feel it’s fair to you.”

Rutledge said, “I just want a fair trial.”

Rutledge is facing the charges of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of incest. He has been in the county jail awaiting trial for about three years.

Cybulski urged the attorneys to address the speedy trial issue. He mentioned that if the issue isn’t touched on, there could be some ineffective counselor complaints made in the future.