Buffalo scheduled for trial, Stark Co. judge says rescheduling has become an issue
Judge William Herauf said during pretrial conferences Tuesday that rescheduling hearings has become an issue at the Stark County Courthouse. “We’re so backlogged and what’s happening with the continuances is it’s causing more and more problems because we’re using dates every time we continue dates,” Herauf said.
Judge William Herauf said during pretrial conferences Tuesday that rescheduling hearings has become an issue at the Stark County Courthouse.
“We’re so backlogged and what’s happening with the continuances is it’s causing more and more problems because we’re using dates every time we continue dates,” Herauf said.
He added the court system spends “countless administrative hours trying to be nice to everybody,” by rescheduling.
Cody Buffalo, a New England man accused of having sexual contact with a young girl, is one of many who have had a hearing rescheduled.
Unless Buffalo pleads guilty beforehand, he will go to trial in April or June, Herauf said.
“We’ve had some preliminary discussion but nothing that’s come to fruition as far as getting this resolved,” said Jim Gion, Hettinger County state’s attorney.
He wants to try to come to a plea agreement, but after the hearing he said that likely won’t happen.
“It’s doubtful right now,” Gion said. “But you never know. We’ve had these things settle almost on the courthouse steps.”
Buffalo faces two counts of Class AA felony gross sexual imposition.
“The alleged victim is the daughter of an ex-girlfriend,” Gion said.
Buffalo faces a maximum punishment of life in prison.
Gion said he would make sure his schedule would work with trial dates.
“Make it work,” Herauf said.
A district-wide increase in caseloads has made scheduling difficult for everyone involved in hearings, Gion said after the hearing.
Nearly every pretrial conference scheduled in front of Herauf on Tuesday afternoon was continued.
A 30-year-old Beulah man accused of luring a minor to engage in sexual behavior using a computer was one of those cases.
Braun said he has been “scrambling” to find a lawyer to represent him.
“I’m still looking,” he said.
Braun allegedly requested sexual contact with someone he believed to be younger than age 15 in Stark County, according to a criminal complaint.
Herauf agreed to continue his pretrial conference.
“In three weeks, we’re going to have another pretrial, which means either you’re going to have an attorney by that time or you’re going to end up representing yourself,” Herauf said.
Braun is charged with a Class B felony, which has a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Tags: judge william herauf, stark county, news, courts
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