The trial of a Madison County man suspected of making a bomb found at a Carroll County church in June has been postponed.
U.S. District Court Judge Jimm L. Hendren reset the trial of Mark Stephen Krause, 40, after a hearing conducted by phone Tuesday.
In an order filed late Thursday, Hendren rescheduled the trial for March 14. It had previously been set to start March 4, but the judge wrote that he wanted more time to consider a motion to continue filed by an assistant U.S. attorney.
Hendren also noted that he didn’t have a brief from Krause’s attorney, although the defense team said it was ready for trial.
Prosecutors filed a motionto continue Feb. 18, citing a backlog at the FBI and the likelihood that more charges will be filed against Krause at the next scheduled grand jury. The government wants more time to conduct forensic tests, including explosions to gauge the power of the bomb Krause is accused of making.
Krause has been in custody since Dec. 3, when he was arrested on suspicion of planting a bomb at Osage Baptist Church, which was being used as a polling place. He’s twice been denied bail by federal judges.
Hendren stated that he needs time to decide whether, as Krause’s attorney argued, a continuance would violate the Speedy Trial Act, U.S. Code, Title 18, Sections 3161 and 3164.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 02/25/2011