Trial of Former Osage Teacher Accused of Sexual Contact With Student Delayed

Mark Edwards

The trial of a former School of the Osage teacher accused of sexual contact, child molestation and statutory sodomy with at least one student is put on hold in Miller County. After Mark Edwards was arraigned on the felony charges in August, all three of the circuit judges in the 26^th judicial circuit have recused themselves from presiding over the case, the most recent happening on Tuesday when the Honorable Peggy Richardson recused during a case review. A trial had been scheduled to begin in May but has been cancelled and, with all three divisions now citing conflicts, it will be up to the Supreme Court to assign another judge to the case. The charges against Edwards date back to alleged incidents which, reportedly, happened in July of 2017 and April of 2018. In the meantime, Edwards remains in the custody of the Miller County Jail with his bond set at $300,000.