A man accused of sexually abusing his sister will have his trial location moved to another county.

Assistant Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn tells Raccoon Valley Radio District Court Judge Gary McMinimee granted the defense attorney’s request to move 20-year-old Noah Duane Exline’s trial out of Greene County. The defense attorney made the request for a change of venue last week citing the extensive media coverage of Exline’s case would make it difficult to find an impartial jury.

The defense then waived Exline’s right to a speedy trial. Laehn says the state has one-year to prosecute an individual from the time their charges were issued. April 3rd was still the target date for the trial, until McMinimee granted the waiver of a speedy trial. Both the defense and prosecution then agreed to have the trial in October. The two counties that had available court dates were Boone and Hamilton counties, however a decision of what county the trial will be in has yet to be determined. Laehn adds that he was against moving the trial out of Greene County due to his theory of prosecuting an individual where the criminal charges were issued.

Exline is accused of sexually abusing his sister, Paige Exline, seven times in a three year period, from ages nine to 12. Paige was one of the two victims that died in a Guthrie Center house fire on May 17th. Noah’s father, James Exline, is charged with felonies for second or subsequent offense for second degree sexual abuse and third degree sexual abuse against his daughter Paige. His jury trial will take place in Mitchell County on May 1st. James’s stepson Patrick Thompson is charged with murder and arson for the house fire and is slated to have his trial in September with a location yet to be determined.

Lahen notes that the Iowa Attorney General’s office is leading the prosecution in each of the three trials, while he will sit second chair in both Exline trials.