Attorneys for suspects Lester Van Waters, Jr. and Michael Spell, Colorado, the men accused of abducting and killing Sidney school teacher Sherry Arnold, filed documents recently requesting a substitute for Richland County District Judge Katherine Irigoin.
Dawson County Seventh Judicial District Court Judge Richard Simonton has accepted the assignment to take over the Richland County case.
Simonton agreed to preside over the criminal cases at the request of Judge Katherine Irigoin, who was asked to remove herself from the case by defense attorneys. The reason for the request has not been reported.
The omnibus hearings are still scheduled for 2 p.m., April 17 unless Simonton rules differently.
Although Simonton is now the judge, the case will be tried in Richland County. The defendants can state the request for a change of venue during the omnibus hearing.
Irigoin and Simonton are the only two district court judges serving in the judicial district that covers the counties of Richland, Dawson, McCone, Prairie and Wibaux.
According to Richland County District Court documents, Spell and Waters have pleaded not guilty to aggravated kidnapping in the disappearance of 43-year-old Sherry Arnold, who was abducted while jogging the morning of Jan. 7.
Arnold is presumed dead, but her body still has not been found.
Trial dates for Spell are scheduled for July 16-20 and trial dates for Waters have been set for July 30-Aug. 3.
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