Upshur County (Longview News-Journal) — An April 30 trial date has been set in the case of former Upshur County Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree and his son, who each face multiple felony indictments stemming from an October incident in which they are accused of disarming a state game warden and holding him at gunpoint.
Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said after a Thursday morning hearing on the cases that jury selection is set for April 29 and trial will begin April 30. It has not been decided whether the two cases will go to trial simultaneously, but at least one trial will begin that day, he added.
Meanwhile, Clifton “Scrappy” Holmes said in court Tuesday he could not represent both Crabtrees on the cases and was removing himself as Todd Crabtree’s attorney. Longview attorney John Moore has been hired to represent Todd Crabtree. Moore waived arraignment for his client Thursday morning meanwhile Holmes waived arraignment for the elder Crabtree on Tuesday, Byrd said.
A pretrial hearing is set for April 5, Byrd added.
“John (Moore) just got hired on the case this morning,” Byrd said. “These dates give him enough time to get through the discovery process and to provide fairness and protect the record.”
Read more stories from KETK newspaper partner the Lonview News-Journal. [1]