Hearing set for woman accused of stealing from Flushing American Legion
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Katherine Stewart appeared in Belmont County Western Division Court on Thursday at noon.
Stewart was charged with one count of felony theft on Sept. 1.
She is accused of stealing from the Flushing American Legion, where she was the bar manager.
On Thursday, Northern Division Judge Adam Myser took over all of Western Division Judge Eric Costine's cases because Costine was out of town for a conference.
"This particular offense is a felony-level offense. I do not have jurisdiction to take a plea from you today," Myser said to Stewart. "Next, we need to set a preliminary hearing which is a hearing that is preliminary in nature. You haven’t been indicted yet, so you don’t even have an opportunity to enter a guilty plea."
Myser asked Stewart whether she had retained counsel, and she replied that she had not.
He then asked how long she would need to retain counsel. Stewart said she would need two weeks.
"I have to set this case down for a preliminary hearing. Before that, I can continue it if you’re asking me for additional time to continue it," Myser said. "Are you asking me to continue that preliminary hearing?"
Stewart replied yes.
Myser said that at Stewart's request, the case would be continued, with a preliminary hearing set for 1:15 p.m. Oct. 6 in Western Division Court.
"The docket and journal entry is going to reflect that you are going to be hiring your own counsel," Myser said.