Marlin “Sparky” Wenger Trial Begins This Week

Marlin “Sparky” Wenger Trial Begins This Week
By Echo Menges

The State vs. Marlin Wenger, 38, of Edina, who is better known as “Sparky” owner of Sparky’s Electric, trial is set to begin Thursday, April 21, 2011 and is scheduled to continue through to Tuesday, April 26.
Because of a change of venue the trial has been moved from Knox County and will take place in Adair County Circuit Court in Kirksville.
Wenger waved his right to a trial by a jury and will go in front of Judge Russell Steele for a bench trial, which means the judge, not a jury, will decide weather Wenger is guilty or not guilty.
Wenger is facing a Class C Felony count of Second Degree Statutory Sodomy and a Felony count of Forcible Sodomy, which was originally filed by the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office in January of 2009.
KC Assistant Prosecutor Jo Fortney and an attorney from the Missouri State Attorney General’s Office are prosecuting the case. Attorneys Andrew Farwell and Timothy Reuschel out of Kirksville are defending Wenger.
In a court of law all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.