Trial may begin in Sedgwick County next week in the case of an Emporia man accused of child rape, but that schedule may well depend on a defense motion now on the table.
John Burton is tentatively set for trial to begin Monday. However, Burton has filed a pro se motion — meaning in his own behalf — for a new defense attorney, citing his current attorney Jama Mitchell’s upcoming retirement, no communication and othe reasons for the motion.
Burton was charged in June 2023. He faces single counts of rape and aggravated indecent liberties involving a child under the age of 14. Trial was tentatively supposed to begin in September but was delayed with Burton’s approval.
