Booker Stanley appeared briefly in court Monday for a status conference, which determined a Feb 21, 2006 date for his preliminary hearing on charges stemming from an alleged domestic dispute, according to Stanley's lawyer, Dennis Burke.
Stanley faces battery, second-degree sexual assault, second-degree recklessly endangering safety and bail-jumping charges due to a Dec. 21, 2005 incident.
According to the Dec. 21 police report, Stanley was involved in a disturbance in which a woman was strangled and battered at his residence.
'It's a conference between the state and the defense to determine whether or not the preliminary hearing is going to go ahead or whether it's going to be waived,' Burke said of the status conference.
He added that most defendants decide to waive the hearing.
'In felony cases, probably three out of four people waive their prelim hearings for one reason or another,' Burke said. 'In his case it was decided we're going to have a hearing.'
Stanley will appear on Feb. 21, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. in front of Judge David Flanagan, according to a court report.
'At the preliminary hearing, they have to show there's sufficient evidence or what's called probable cause to continue the case for trial,' Burke said. 'That's when the victim shows up and testifies.'
Following the preliminary hearing, Stanley will enter a plea, Burke said.
