Ballinger case to move out of Saline County

Monday, June 8, 2009
BY KATHY FAIRCHILD/Staff writer

David L. Ballinger, 48, of Marshall, in custody at Saline County Justice Facility on a $250,000 bond since April 11, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Dennis A. Rolf Monday, June 8.

Ballinger's attorney, Brett Kaiser, public defender for Saline County, asked the court to allow a change of judge and a change of venue for his client.

As provided in Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure, such changes, if requested in a county of 75,000 inhabitants or less, are automatically granted if requested within 10 days of arraignment. A new judge will be assigned by the Missouri Supreme Court. In most instances, the case will be transferred to the county of the judge eventually assigned to the case.

Ballinger has been charged with three counts of attempted third-degree sodomy, according to the probable cause statement released by the county prosecutor.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

Related stories:

Marshall minister charged with statutory sodomy:

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/153007...

Ballinger assigned public defender:

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/153092...

Ballinger case moves to higher court:

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/153092...

Comments

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i dont think it matters where the trial is or what happens to reverend happy pants, he knows who he will be answering to and there is only one change of venue there....and its final bub!

-- Posted by thisguy on Tue, Jun 9, 2009, at 12:25 PM

Yank, I respectfully disagree with your observation about Clay County. There was a similar Saline County case tried in Clay County about 18 months ago on a change of venue and the Defendants were found guilty by a Clay County jury and sentenced to a bunch of years by a Clay County Judge!

-- Posted by OldOwl on Tue, Jun 9, 2009, at 12:10 PM

yes, i agree with saline fire on this one for sure,i do have an suggestion, take him to clay county, he is sure to be aquitted.

-- Posted by yank on Tue, Jun 9, 2009, at 8:39 AM

Change of Venue...Straight Crap! If you wanna do the crime in Saline County let the county decide what happens to the person. Looks like another case of probation on our hands like the last change of Venue. Thats all the public defense lawyers know, let me get you out of the county then we'll have a chance...blablabla

-- Posted by SalineFire on Tue, Jun 9, 2009, at 7:00 AM