Dennis Rainey, the evangelist facing a felony criminal mischief charge for felling dozens of trees in the protected Lake Maumelle watershed owned by Central Arkansas Water to improve the view from his hilltop home overlooking the lake, apparently will not go to trial Tuesday as scheduled in Judge Cathi Compton’s court.
Multiple trials are scheduled in her court that day and it appears a case that will take precedence is going to trial, meaning the three-day trial scheduled for Rainey likely can’t move forward. A witness in the case told me the case would be delayed. Rainey’s lawyer, David Parker, filed an unopposed motion for a continuance Friday. It said:
The parties were informed on September 22, 2022 that there were multiple trials scheduled for the same trial date, and that this case would be second-out, pending any pre-trial resolution in the other scheduled trial. Counsel for both parties have spoken with attorneys on that other case, and both sides appear confident that the other case is likely going to trial, which will then likely result in continuing this case at that time.
Among other considerations, witnesses for the defense are traveling from out-ofstate to testify in this case. Defendant requests that this trial date be continued until a later date so that witnesses do not waste travel expenses, when a continuance appears probable. To the extent possible, Defendant would request a new trial setting where Defendant can rely on being in the first-out position
The motion says prosecutor Robbie Jones did not object to the continuance.
Central Arkansas Water has estimated the damage to trees at $100,000. Rainey disputes the valuation. He also contends he’d been given permission by waterworks officials in the past for previous tree trimming and believed he had permission for the cutting or trimming of some 100 trees, discovered by neighbors. CAW disputes that he’d been given permission.