It's been nearly four years since a former Cub Scout leader was arrested for allegedly molesting an 8-year-old boy attending a sleepover at his home.
But there's still no trial date for Harry Brett Taylor, 47, who remains jailed on multiple charges of child molestation, sexual battery and sexual exploitation of children.
Thursday afternoon, Taylor's attorney, Walt Britt, told a Gwinnett County judge that the case should be reassigned because of a potential bias.
Attorney Walt Britt argued that since Kimberly Gallant previously worked in the District Attorney's office and now is an assistant for Judge Karen Beyers, Beyers should not preside over the case.
But District Attorney Danny Porter told Judge Melodie Snell Connor that Gallant wasn't involved with the case against Taylor, who was a member of the Gwinnett County library board at the time of his arrest.
"It was never my case," Gallant testified. "I never touched it."
Connor told both sides she would issue her ruling in a day or two.
For victims' families, some of whom were seated in the courtroom Thursday, the latest hearing is another delay in a case dating to 2008. Joanne Cornish, Taylor's ex-wife, said she is frustrated by the delay in bringing the case to trial.
"I don’t even live in this state and I have to travel back here because I want to make sure things are moving, and they're not moving,” Cornish said outside the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. "We want to get behind it. My kids want to get behind it."
In 2008, an 8-year-old boy was the first to accuse Taylor of fondling him.
The boy reportedly told police he was molested at a sleepover at Taylor’s house in Lawrenceville. The sleepover was not affiliated with the Cub Scouts, but the boy knew Taylor because Taylor was his Cub Scout den leader, police previously said.
The boy also told investigators Taylor photographed him while he was drying off and undressing after swimming in Taylor's pool, police have said.
About the Author