The presiding judge in the trial against James Exline has declared the case a mistrial.

According to the court attendant, 79 jurors were summoned to be potential jurors in the trial. The 46-year-old was accused of sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter Paige Exline, who died in a house fire in Guthrie Center this past May. Assistant Greene County Attorney Thomas Lahne tells Raccoon Valley Radio that they were seating 32 jurors Wednesday and had another 21 jurors to interview, when the judge declared the case a mistrial.

“Defense attorney (Daniel Gonnerman of Slater) made a motion for a change of venue on the ground that the jurors had been exposed to information about the case prior to the trial that would affect their ability to make an impartial determination of guilt. The judge accepted that motion for a change of venue and declared a mistrial.”

He adds that court rules are that any potential juror must not be exposed to media or gossip about a case to serve as a juror. Lahne points out that the venue will be moved out of the media market, but he doesn’t know where yet. Lahne was the second chair to the Assistant Iowa Attorney General Denise Timmins on the prosecution side, so Lahne believes he may still be asked to continue after a new location for the trial is determined.

“I look forward to that opportunity if we can’t have a jury comprised of citizens from Greene County, as least we will have a prosecutor from this county seeking justice in this case.”

Exline is charged with a Class A Felony for his second or subsequent offense for second degree sexual abuse and a Class C Felony for third degree sexual abuse.

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.