Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A Barton County judge is considering a change of venue for a capital murder trial involving a 14-year-old girl's death.

The motion by attorneys for 37-year-old Adam Longoria was among a bevy of filings taken up during a hearing Wednesday in Barton County District Court. Longoria is scheduled to go on trial March 26 on charges of capital murder and sexual crimes for the August 2010 death of Alicia DeBolt.

The girl's burned body was found at an asphalt plant near Great Bend where Longoria worked.

A communications professor from Pittsburg State University testified about a venue study she conducted. Shirley Drew said she asked 401 Barton County residents about the Longoria case. Drew said 100 percent were aware of the case, and more than 75 percent felt Longoria was guilty of the crime.

The judge said she would rule on the change of venue motion on Monday.

The judge rejected a defense motion to have jurors paid at the normal rate they receive on the job.

The judge said she will also take up issue of sequestration of the witnesses at the next hearing.

Attorneys also argued whether the jury should see Debolt's family members become emotional during the trial. Prosecutors told the judge the state would advise the family if disturbing testimony is going to be presented that day so they could leave if they wanted to.

The judge said "we do not need a court order for that."

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, although the capital murder charge remains. Longoria faces life in prison without parole if convicted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.