COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – After a Tuesday afternoon hearing on a defense motion to dismiss that lasted for over an hour, Branch County District Court Judge Brent Weigle took his decision on the David Spalding and Craig Artist cases under advisement.
Judge Weigle said there were clear legal disagreements during Tuesdays court proceedings. The two sides agreed to an evidentiary hearing that was scheduled for May 16th, 2018 at 9:00 a.m..
Spalding and Artist are both facing misdemeanor charges for failure to report suspected sexual abuse to the Department of Human Services.
Spalding has been on administrative leave as Quincy High School Principal since last May while Artist retired last July after questions were raised about they how they handled sexual misconduct allegations against former teacher and Information Technology Director Jason Ferrell who eventually entered no contest pleas to two counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct.
Ferrell is now serving a prison sentence of between seven years, 11 months and 15 years.
Defense attorneys T.J. Reed and Bill Renner have listed several reasons why the cases should be thrown out. Reed, who is representing Artist, says the prosecution withheld information.
Valarie White from the Prosecutors Office disagreed and said they have cooperated with the defense.
White told Judge Weigle she was not aware of a defense claim other people were interviewed by Quincy Community School Behavior Specialist Laura Talbot.
Lawyers for both sides indicated during a pre trial conference in February that the cases are heading for trial unless the charges are dropped before then. Spalding and Artist both claim they are innocent.
