Waller court appearance postponed after defense requests judge change

Clay Waller's appearance and arraignment in front of Judge Gary Kamp this afternoon at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson has been canceled after Waller's lawyer submitted a change of judge motion to the court Monday morning.

Reynolds said the decision to file the motion was made by Waller and himself after consulting with his client at the Cape Girardeau County jail Saturday morning following Waller's arrest on charges of felony stealing by deceit and misdemeanor harassment. Reynolds declined to specify a reason.

"It's not Judge Kamp. It's nothing personal, we just decided it was the best thing to do," Reynolds said.

Reynolds said he will receive notice within the next week indicating whether Waller will appear before Judge Michael Bullerdieck or Judge Scott Thomsen. He said he expects Waller's appearance will be scheduled around the end of August, and in the meantime Waller will remain in custody. He is being held on a $65,000 cash-only bond.

"If he has to be in jail for another couple weeks, so be it. I'm worried about the big picture and not the small picture. As far as the big picture goes, after consulting with Clay, we decided this was the best approach," Reynolds said.

Clay Waller is considered by police to be a person of interest in his wife Jacque Sue Waller's missing-person case, but the charges he is facing now are unrelated.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

100 Court Street, Jackson, MO