A shortage of court resources has forced the District Attorney’s Office to drop a felony abuse case. On March 8th a case was filed against Brett Epps for charges including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, corporal injury to a spouse, child abuse and false imprisonment but on March 25th the court dismissed the case because it timed out due to a lack of available judges and courtrooms. The case was refiled on June 14th but on the 25th it again timed out and had to be dismissed. Because it was the second such dismissal, the DA’s Office is not allowed to file the case again and it will go unprosecuted. The shortage of judges has led to the dismissal of 16 felony cases this year.
– Steve Gibson