A new trial has been set for former Jefferson County Clerk of Courts Kirk Reams after a judge declared a mistrial.
The decision came on Wednesday, May 8, after state prosecutors laid out accusations of Reams stealing $829,000 from the county.
Reams’ trial was expected to last a week but after day two, Reams’ lawyers had heard enough of hearing witnesses bring up their client’s old cases. They argued it wasn’t fair to mention any previous charges that were not relevant to this trial–and Judge Stephen Everett agreed.
Judge Everett ordered for such cases to be left out. But after two of the state’s witnesses made comments about Reams’ 2017 arrest on petty theft, a motion for a mistrial was granted.
“I cant argue in good conscience that its not prejudicial,” State Attorney Jack Campbell said to the judge. “If you grant the motion for mistrial, you would be on solid ground.”
A new trial is set for Aug 19th. The state will now file a motion to try Reams and Justin Tyler McNeill, another co-defendant, together.
