On the Beat in the Bluegrass

PARIS — The criminal trial for a Paris man accused of killing a 6-year-old boy in 2007 has been moved to August.

Lewis “Buck” Ballard’s trial was to begin Feb. 4, but defense attorneys said during a hearing Thursday that they needed more time to test forensic evidence.

Ballard, 50, is charged with first-degree sodomy and murder in the death of Wesley Mullins.

Bourbon Circuit Judge Rob Johnson, who had booked the entire month of February for the trial, expressed frustration over the continuance because the trial had been rescheduled in October. The last continuance also was granted because lab testing was not complete.

Johnson said the clerk’s office had started working on the case and had sent subpoenas to potential jurors. The judge said he was concerned that potential jurors would start to follow the case.

“This is probably one of the most important cases that any attorney, judge or jury is going to be a part of,” Johnson said, adding that his frustration was not directed to any side.

He granted the continuance because he said it was necessary for a fair trial.

Defense attorneys said it took a year for the Kentucky State Police lab to test several pieces of evidence. Now Ballard’s attorneys are having items tested at another lab, which could take six to 12 weeks.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gordie Shaw did not want the trial moved and offered to help find a lab that could get the tests down sooner.

Initially, Johnson inquired about moving the case to July. But Shaw said that was too close to a double homicide he’s prosecuting in Scott County in June.