For the second time this week attorneys for the former pastor at First United Methodist Church and the church’s daycare director were back in the courtroom Friday afternoon to argue about whether audio clips from a meeting will be allowed at trial.
Bill Deatherage, who represents former pastor Paige Williams, defense attorney for Abby Leach, David Bundrick of Paducah and special prosecutor Blake Chambers appeared before Judge John Atkins to argue whether specific audio clips from a recorded meeting Williams had at the church with the parents about the abuse of several children were admissions. The attorney’s reviewed the transcript of each audio clip and argued before the judge whether they should or should not be allowed during the trial.
Bundrick said his biggest concern is some of the clips are questions from the parents and not admissions.
click to download audioDeatherage said none of the recorded clips should be allowed at trial and a better approach .
click to download audioChambers said that what’s frustrating is no one is saying what specific statements from the recordings they have an issue with.
click to download audioThe attorneys continued to review each individual clip and argue why it should or should not be allowed at trial and finally came to an agreement after more than an hour of discussions.
Judge Atkins then set another pretrial conference for 8:00 on the morning of July 28th.
Williams and Leach are both charged with eight counts of complicity to first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12. The two women are accused of “breaching” their duties to protect the children from the hands of former daycare workers Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan. On Wednesday, Judge Atkins sentenced Simpson to a total of 20 years in prison, with former daycare worker Morgan sentenced to one year in the Christian County Jail. Simpson was convicted by a Christian Circuit Court Jury in June of twelve counts of criminal abuse of a child twelve or under. The jury convicted Morgan of one count of third-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under. The jury could not agree on sentences, with Judge Atkins then responsible for determining the sentence in both cases.
