Special Judge Needed In FUMC Day Care Case

Citing his commitment to a speedy trial, Christian County Circuit Judge John Atkins recused himself from the First United Methodist Church Day Care case. Friday morning, in front of more than two dozen family and friends of the victims and the defendants, Judge Atkins ruled on the motion filed late last week.


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Paige Williams and Abby Leach are both charged with eight counts of complicity to first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12. The two women are accused of “breaching” their duties to protect the children from the hands of former daycare workers Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan. The trial had been slated to start this week with jury selection.

Atkins denied many of the allegations in the motion.


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Though he did concede there was one incident that merits removing himself from the case.


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He did deny the motion to recuse filed by Morgan's attorney as well as her request for a public defender citing her lack of compliance with Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure.