ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Former Bellaire Salvation Army Maj. Louis Patrick did not appear in Belmont County Eastern Division Court on Thursday due to a misunderstanding between Eastern Division Court Prosecutor Joshua Norman and Patrick’s attorney, Jacob Leach of Shaheen Law Group.

Patrick is charged with one count of sexual battery in April following a complaint received by a female worker at the Salvation Army to the Bellaire Police Department.

According to Norman, the misunderstanding stemmed from a conversation he had with Leach where he informed Leach that he was going to make a motion for a continuation during Thursday’s court appearance. Leach believed that Norman meant that he had already made the motion prior to Thursday’s court appearance.

Leach had already planned to be out of the country during Thursday’s appearance but Michael Shaheen informed Norman that he would be representing Patrick during Thursday’s appearance.

Prior to the misunderstanding, Shaheen informed Norman that he would be representing Patrick during Thursday’s proceeding so that it would not have to be delayed due to Leach being out of the country.

“It was my understanding that the prosecutor needed to continue the case. We mutually agreed that I nor my client would have to appear, if that caused any inconvenience to the court I apologize, but it was clearly our understanding that I didn’t have to be there, nor did my client,” Shaheen said. “My client was prepared to come, but that was based upon communication from the prosecutor’s office, presumably by agreement.”

Eastern Division Judge David Trouten will reschedule Patrick’s court appearance for later in the month.