Crime & Safety
Merrick Hearing Delayed Again; Additional Charges Filed
Judge Nancy Stark will decide whether the case against Michael Merrick should proceed after a hearing Aug. 12 in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
A judge has postponed her decision on whether a Stanley Middle School teacher charged with molesting a 14-year-old girl should stand trial.
Michael Merrick's hearing is set for Aug. 12 in a Martinez courtroom, at which the judge will determine whether there’s enough evidence to warrant a jury trial. Evidence could include
The hearing for Merrick was , but it was pushed to Thursday. It has been rescheduled again because Judge Nancy Stark is on vacation, said Johanna Schonfield, the deputy district attorney who is prosecuting the case.
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A lengthy timeline is not unusual for sexual assault cases – most take about two years to get to trial, Schonfield said.
Additionally, the number of felony counts against Merrick has increased from 17 to 25. He also is charged with one misdemeanor.
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The additional charges provide a more complete picture of what happened between Merrick and the girl, Schonfield said.
Merrick, 48, has been in jail since his arrest in October. Investigators say that he sexually abused the girl during private tutoring sessions and sent her hundreds of text messages, some with lewd content.
Last year, Merrick pleaded not guilty to the counts against him.
