ROBERT BUCKHANNON: Crooked Chiropractor (And Cooperating Witness) Approval Required For Kelly Demoss Trial Delay/Continuance

JUNE 12 UPDATE-DEMOSS TRIAL SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 1, 2019: In a document filed on behalf of Robert Buckhannon late yesterday, the admitted felon and fraudster signed off on the trial delay requested by his co-defendant (and former fiancé) Kelly J. Demoss. Buckhannon stated he “voluntarily agreed” to the continuance requested on May 31, 2019 by the Demoss defense team.

In addition, Buckhannon's signed statement revealed he believes “it is in the interest of justice for a continuance to be granted.”

The federal jury trial of Demoss is scheduled to begin October 1, 2019 at 9:00am—unless, of course, there's another delay.

See you at the Wine Room.  

(I hear those Candy Apple Frosé Wine Slushees are great!)
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According to an order filed yesterday by U. S. District Judge Janet T. Neff, Robert Buckhannon must file either a signed consent to an adjournment form or a statement by June 12 indicating his position concerning the request for a continuance filed May 31, 2019 on behalf of his co-defendant Kelly Demoss. 

The duo are shown together in a photo taken during the renovation of Battle Creek's On Deck Sports Bar & Grill, an establishment they briefly ran during 2013. The bar was destroyed on December 30, 2013 by a suspicious fire investigated as an arson by the Battle Creek Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Buckhannon struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors on May 30, agreeing to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Buckhannon’s plea agreement revealed that he agreed to “fully cooperate with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U. S. Attorney’s Office, and any other law enforcement agency in this investigation of charges” contained in the original indictment as well as the investigation of crimes “over which they have actual or apparent jurisdiction”. 

The U. S. Attorney’s Office agreed to drop the other charges against Buckhannon contained in the original indictment, including one count of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. 

In a May 31, 2019 federal court filing, Scott Graham, an attorney representing Demoss, revealed the defense team had “identified an issue relating to Defendant’s mental state at the time certain crucial documents were signed.” 

Pretrial in the case was set to begin on June 17, and go to trial on June 24, but the case has been pushed back into the fall. 

As the May 31 defense filing revealed, Graham “discussed this request with Assistant United States Attorney Christopher O’Connor, who has indicated that the government does not oppose the relief requested in this motion. The government requests a new trial date on or after September 30, 2019, to avoid previously scheduled personal and professional conflicts.” 

In her order, Judge Neff allowed that while “the government does not oppose the requested relief there is no indication whether or not Co-Defendant Robert Lyle Buckhannon agrees to the continuance. For this reason, the motion will be held in abeyance pending a filing from Co-Defendant Buckhannon setting forth his position as to the continuance.” 

Buckhannon was ordered to file either a signed consent to adjournment form or a statement indicating his position concerning the request for a continuance no later than close of business 
Wednesday, June 12, 2019.