Update: Federal trial on 11 counts is underway in October 2015. Links to all posts covering the federal trial are at this post.
I just took a quick look at the federal PACER system to check on the status of the case against Keith Graves. As you recall, he was one of the key players in the documentary The Overnighters, which I’ve mentioned a number of times.
Update: Third superseding indictment adds another count for alleged trafficking.
A few items of note:
On June 3, 2015, a second superseding indictment was filed. It now has 10 counts, including the previous obstruction, distribution of methamphetamines, and possession of controlled substance charges. A seventh count of alleged trafficking has been added to the previous six counts. That makes seven adult women he is accused of trafficking.
The docket shows that he requested and has been approved to represent himself. Standby counsel was appointed in mid-May.
On May 19, a discovery order was issued instructing the government to make available to Mr. Graves 22 compact discs which contains the discovery material. The court ordered the detention center in Rugby ND where he is held to make a computer available for his use. His standby counsel will get the discs to him.
In June, the court has issued three Writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum orders. The assistant US attorney requested that two named individuals be moved from where they are currently held in custody (one in Rugby, the other in Mandan) to the court in Bismarck so they can appear for testimony. The orders state the testimony will will be received on July 14, 2015. The third writ is to order Mr. Graves to appear.
Looks like the trial will be moving forward as previously mentioned.
Rugby is east of Minot, about 2 1/2 hours from Bismarck. Mandan is just on the other side of the Missouri River from Bismarck.
The named individuals correspond with initials listed in the indictment. Obviously those are two of the women he allegedly trafficked.
Overlap of alleged trafficking dates with documentary
The dates mentioned in the indictment allege that for six of the seven women the trafficking started in July 2013. For the other count the trafficking is alleged to have started in May 2014.
The end dates for the alleged trafficking are July 2014 for three of the counts and August 2014 for four of the counts.
Filming for The Overnighters ran through September 2013, when the pastor at the church resigned. That means there is a roughly 2 month (perhaps three) overlap between the start of the alleged trafficking and the end of the filming.
I’m sure we will see lots of news reports in about another month as the trial date gets closer.
Update: Posts on Mr. Graves’ status:
- 4-11 – Current status of Keith Graves, one of the main people in documentary “The Overnighters”
- 6/16 – Update on the federal charges against Keith Graves (post you are reading)
- 7/1 – Keith Graves’ trial postponed to October 19, 2015