Woman's sex battery trial is postponed

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County woman's trial on a sex battery charge is being pushed back to July.

Tracie Lynn Wakefield waived her right to a speedy trial, and the state and the defense agreed to postpone the trial, which was set to start on May 30 in 1st District Court.

Defense attorney Michael Waldrup said in court documents his client wanted to address an unspecified medical issue prior to trial. Waldrup also wanted more time to prepare his case and to attend a family engagement in California, court records indicated.

Prosecutor Phil Robinson agreed to the continuance. Wakefield's three-day trial is now set to begin on July 24.

Wakefield, 42, is accused of engaging in sexual contact with a teen between the ages of 16 and 17 between December 2005 and June of last year. Wakefield has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and told investigators the teen was making the story up to shift attention away from his own troubles with the law.