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MARSHALL -- A former Marshall resident facing drug possession charges pleaded not guilty in Lyon County District Court on Tuesday.
An attorney for Dante Maurice Stidman said Stidman was demanding a speedy trial in his case.
Jury trial dates for the case were set for Nov. 18 and 19.
At Tuesday's hearing, the court also discussed a motion calling for prosecutors to disclose reports and other information involving a confidential informant in Stidman's case. Due to an upcoming change in public defenders for Stidman, District Court Judge Michelle Dietrich held off on ruling on the matter Tuesday.
Stidman, 48, pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree drug possession and third degree drug possession. A criminal complaint alleges that a search executed at Stidman’s apartment on Jan. 14 found a crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine in the bathroom toilet. The complaint also alleged the water from the toilet bowl field-tested positive for meth.
During Tuesday's hearing, assistant public defender Jeremy Blackwelder said Stidman will be assigned a new public defender soon. Recently, the Minnesota Governor's Office announced that Blackwelder will be appointed as a judge to fill a vacancy in the Fifth District Court.
A two-day jury trial for Stidman was set for Nov. 18-19. Dates were also set for a settlement conference on Oct. 27, and a pretrial hearing on Nov. 10.
After setting upcoming hearing and trial dates, the court discussed a motion Blackwelder filed on Sept. 17. The motion called for prosecutors to disclose reports and other information involving a confidential informant mentioned in search warrant applications and police reports in Stidman's case. The motion called for disclosure of information regarding the reliability of the informant and any possible biases they might have.
On Tuesday, Blackwelder asked for a continuance on the motion in order to give Stidman and his new attorney time to go over it. Lyon County Attorney Abby Wikelius said she opposed the disclosure motion, but she would leave the scheduling matter to the court.
Dietrich continued the matter to an Oct. 13 hearing.