Jetton trial date setting postponed

A decision on when former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton will go on trial for felony assault was postponed Tuesday in New Madrid County.

Jetton's attorney, Stephen C. Wilson of Cape Girardeau, and Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd appeared before Circuit Judge Fred W. Copeland around noon in New Madrid, Mo. The docket for the case showed that a trial date was to be set, but Copeland accepted an agreement between Boyd and Wilson to continue the case until 10 a.m. June 8.

The latest docket entry does not indicate whether a trial date will be set at that time.

Jetton faces a single felony count of second-degree assault. He is accused of punching and choking a woman at her Sikeston, Mo., home in November after meeting her there for drinks. The woman, Mary Elizabeth Lowe, testified at a preliminary hearing in February that she became disoriented and lost consciousness after Jetton gave her wine.

Lowe testified that Jetton bound her wrists, had sexual intercourse with her and punched and choked her.

Photographs entered into evidence showed bruising on the left side of her face, her neck, left thigh and right ankle.

The case was moved to New Madrid County on a change of venue.

Jetton, a Republican, was speaker of the Missouri House from 2005 to 2009 and represented the 156th Missouri House District, which includes most of Bollinger County and Wayne County, from 2001 to 2009.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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