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Ky. Lawmaker's Trial Date Moved

wmmt.org

A federal judge has moved the trial date of an outgoing Kentucky lawmaker and a retired state mine inspector who are facing bribery charges.

The Appalachian News Express cited court documents in reporting that the trial date of state Rep. W. Keith Hall and retired inspector Kelly Shortridge is now set to begin on April 13 in Pikeville instead of Jan. 5. U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell set aside five days for the trial.

Prosecutors accuse Hall of paying Shortridge more than $46,000 to ignore repeated violations at Hall's Pike County coal mines. Shortridge is also accused of trying to extort more money from Hall.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.

Hall, a Democrat who represented Pike County for 14 years, lost in the May primary.