Four years after indictment, a trial date has been set for a sexual abuse case.
John E. Sutherland, 74, of Corbin, faces total of 24 counts of sexual abuse, sodomy and incest.
At a previous hearing, Sutherland’s court-appointed attorney, Kara Ottis, claimed that since the case began, her client’s health had significantly deteriorated, suffering several strokes since the legal process began. Before stepping down as Circuit Judge, Danny Evans sustained a motion made by Ottis, which instructed Sutherland to undergo a new Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center (KCPC) evaluation. The evaluation indicated that Sutherland is competent to stand trial.
Circuit Judge Michael O. Caperton recently scheduled Sutherland’s case to be tried by a Jury 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. A final pretrial conference was also scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, 2017.
Sutherland allegedly victimized four individuals from the year 1980 to 1992. At the time of the incidents, each victim was under the age of 12.
Sutherland’s first four charges occurred between August 1980 and August 1981. The victim was seven years old.
The following three counts occurred between March 1980 and March 1983. The victim was six years old.
Another 12 counts occurred between May 1985 and May 1989, beginning when the victim was five years old.
The final five counts occurred from July 1991 to December 1992. The victim was seven years old.
Sutherland was arrested and charged in 2013. Although he was originally lodged in the Knox County Detention Center, Sutherland posted his $50,000 bail in August 2013.
