A trial date will be set next month for the man accused of sexually abusing a juvenile female on a church bus on Easter Sunday last year if a plea deal isn’t reached before his next court appearance.
Defense attorney Sands Chewning and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerad Smith agreed Wednesday morning it’ll be time to set a jury trial date if a plea deal isn’t reached for Tyler Frances by the next time he’s in court.
Judge John Atkins set the next pre-trial conference for September 2 at 8:30 a.m.
Investigation by Hopkinsville police led to the first-degree sexual abuse charge after the alleged victim said Frances ripped off her underwear and inappropriately touched her while both were riding the church bus. Frances was not an employee or affiliated with the church and has pled not guilty in the case.