Stanford appears in Smithville court
Trial schedule set; case could go to jury in January
Christopher R. Stanford, District Attorney General for the 31st Judicial District, appeared at the DeKalb County Courthouse Tuesday for the latest round in his defense against felony reckless endangerment charges.
Stanford, who was indicted by a special session of the DeKalb County Grand Jury in December of 2024, is represented by Jeff Cherry of the Lebanon law firm of Lowery, Lowery and Cherry. The Main Street Journal reached out to Cherry Tuesday morning, after being directed to issue all inquiries to his office during a phone conversation with Stanford, who had just left the DeKalb County courthouse.
Cherry told the MSJ he had issued a scheduling order on behalf of his client, who was charged following an incident in November during which shots were allegedly fired by Stanford into an occupied habitation on Bell St. in Smithville during the attempted apprehension of suspects believed to be involved in a triple homicide here in Warren County. DeKalb County prosecutors levied the charges, saying there was no imminent threat requiring the use of gunplay and alleging Stanford’s actions at the time put others’ lives at risk.
According to Cherry, a scheduling order was filed during Tuesday’s hearing. The schedule requires any pretrial motions in the case be filed by Oct. 22 and also sets a final date for a potential plea or hearings on any substantive motions for Nov. 24.
If the case continues to a jury, that trial is scheduled for Jan. 7-9 of 2026. Cherry noted that despite any rumors to the contrary, no plea agreements have been considered at this point.
The Main Street Journal will remain in contact with both Stanford and Cherry, and will provide updates on the case as it progresses through the system.
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