A trial date was set in the case of James Gentry—the man accused of murder in the November shooting death of Keith Joey Hayes—while he continues to await DNA results from the state laboratory.
Gentry appeared in Trigg Circuit Court Wednesday, along with defense attorney Michael Thompson, and the court heard an update about the DNA testing from Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins. She says it could be May at the earliest before the results come in, which is frustrating for both the Commonwealth and the defense.
Thompson agreed that the delay is through no fault of anyone in the case, but he did request that Gentry’s bond be reduced in the meantime.
Ovey-Wiggins reiterated that she is adamantly opposed to a reduction in bond, which is currently set at $1 million. Judge C. A. Woody Woodall said he would review the bond and make a ruling on a possible reduction in the next week or so. A tentative trial date was set for August 24 of 2020, and the next pretrial hearing was set for November 13.
Gentry is charged with murder, first-degree robbery and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. As previously reported, Gentry allegedly admitted to Kentucky State Police that he was present when Hayes was shot multiple times on November 27. He also reportedly admitted to transporting Hayes to the location on Buffalo Road in Trigg County where he was killed and later located.