By PETER HUSSMANN
Trials for the three people charged in connection with the alleged misappropriation of nearly $154,000 from the now defunct Jasper County Transit agency have been pushed back to February.
On Monday, Judge Gregory Hulse approved Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen's motions to continue the trials of Mark Ackerman, Susan Reese and Ray Sprague that had previously been set for later this month until Feb. 24, 2010.
The three were charged with first degree theft and on-going criminal conduct following a state audit that "identified $153,597.31 of undeposited collections, improper disbursements and unsupported disbursements."
The audit covered the full period of Jasper County Transit's operations in the community, from April 2004 to April 2006. The agency provided transportation services primarily to the elderly and disabled.
In asking the court to continue the merged trials, Jacobsen noted that federal prosecutors "are investigating interest in litigating this case." He said that should federal authorities proceed, "the state will, in all likelihood, dismiss its prosecution."
Jacobsen goes on to state in his motion that "two of the three defendants have indicated that they wish to schedule and conduct discussions with the office of the county attorney prior to proceeding to trial."
Each of the defendants have plead not guilty to the felony charges.
