Judge Harvey Shane Allen, the judge appointed to oversee the case against Matthew Dale Forschler, 48, of Thayer, the man arrested and charged earlier this year in Thayer for alleged sexual offenses against two juvenile females, has recused himself from the case.
Forschler was initially scheduled to appear May 12 to answer to charges in two separate cases.
The first, sexual abuse in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor and the second, three charges of child molestation in the fourth degree, a class E felony in the State of Missouri
Judge Robert David Ray has been appointed to oversee the case. Forschler is set to appear in Oregon County Court May 21.
Judge Ray was the initial Judge to oversee the case regarding the charge of sexual abuse in the second degree.
On May 10, prior to the initial court date, Alexander O’Neill also filed a plea of not guilty to the felony charges.
On May 12, Forschler’s attorney O’Neill filed a motion for continuance regarding the misdemeanor charge.
On May 14, court records were updated indicating court for the felony charges will take place May 21, however; despite the motion for continuance court records indicate a court date of May 21 remains in place for the misdemeanor charge as well.
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