Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp is presiding over the first in-person trial since the courthouses were closed and court operations were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The criminal trial is being held at the Criminal Justice Center. Jury selection began Sept. 21. Defendant Michael A. Weis, 39, is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, three counts of criminal sexual assault and three counts of child pornography.
Jury trials had been continued since mid-March when COVID-19 precautions took effect. Madison County Chief Judge William Mudge had previously said criminal trials will be the first to resume.
Social distancing is being enforced by having jurors spread out in the jury box and the audience seating, according to the circuit clerk’s office.
Members of the audience are unable to watch the trial in person due to limited space, so they are watching it on video from the Madison County Courthouse.
Additionally, jurors will use a courtroom to deliberate so they have enough room to spread out.
Weis is represented in the trial by Brian Polinske of Polinske & Associates PC in Edwardsville. Kathleen Nolan with the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Additionally, Weis is charged with soliciting, using, persuading, enticing or coercing K.S. to appear unclothed in images in “a pose or posture that is a lewd exhibition of her unclothed” body.