By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBUS, Kan. — Former Cherokee County Attorney Michael Goodrich’s trial on extortion and other charges is now set for July 8.
U.S. District Judge Monti Belot on Thursday approved a 90-day delay in Goodrich’s trial, requested Wednesday in a motion by his attorney, Michael Hepperly. The trial had been scheduled to start April 8.
A change-of-plea hearing in Goodrich’s case had been scheduled for Monday. Goodrich, 46, of Baxter Springs, pleaded innocent in his initial court appearance in September. He resigned Dec. 1.
James Cross, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren, wrote in an e-mail to the Globe that the new development nullifies the change-of-plea hearing.
Goodrich is charged in U.S. District Court, Wichita, with two felony counts of extortion, one felony count of wire fraud and one felony count of witness intimidation. The extortion and wire-fraud charges allege that Goodrich, when he was the county prosecutor, received money and unspecified favors from the owner and employees of Sensations Gentleman’s Club in return for favorable legal treatment. The club in rural Galena features nude women dancing.
The witness-intimidation charge alleges that Goodrich tried to influence the answers of then-Assistant County Attorney Garth Adams as Adams was to be interviewed by an FBI agent about his boss.
Cross wrote that a change-of-plea hearing for Timothy Schooley, of Baxter Springs, remains scheduled for Monday, April 7. Schooley is charged with one count of felony extortion. The charge alleges that Schooley approached an assistant manager of the club in Goodrich’s presence, asking for money to be used for the waitresses and dancers. According to the allegation, the assistant manager handed money belonging to the club to Goodrich.
Continuance motion
The motion for a continuance filed by Michael Goodrich’s attorney, Michael Hepperly, noted that assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst, who is prosecuting Goodrich, did not oppose the delay. There have been two previous delays in the trial.
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