Both trials in Clovis incest case moved to next year

Trials for the Clovis mother and son accused of an incestuous relationship have both been moved to 2017.

Caleb Peterson, 19, is accused of having the relationship with his mother, 36-year-old Monica Mares, after he became an adult.

The trial for Mares has been set for March 17.

Peterson’s trial date was slated Nov. 8, but during a docket call on Tuesday,

District Court Judge Fred Van Soelen said it would also move to sometime next year.

Both cases had been on a “trailing docket,” attorneys said, meaning the dates were not fixed. District Attorney Andrea Reeb asked Van Soelen for a fixed date and defense attorney Thomas Harden did not object.

The specific date for Peterson’s case was not scheduled Tuesday, but Van Soelen said he would select one soon.

Reeb said she wants a fixed date for both cases because she has a witness flying in from Los Angeles and doesn’t want to incur the expense if there’s any doubt the separate trials will go forward.

Both Reeb and Harden said they’d probably need multiple panels to get enough jurors.

Reeb noted the publicity the case has received, as Mares and Peterson have done interviews with London’s Daily Mail newspaper and their story has generated media coverage throughout the U.S.

Harden doubted two panels would be enough, but noted the scenario doesn’t appear dire enough for him to seek a change of venue.

Regarding multiple panels, Van Soelen said, “We couldn’t get two panels if we tried,” for the current docket because jury notices have already been sent, but he agreed to find a fixed date.

Van Soelen asked Harden if moving the trial to 2017 would interfere with Harden’s plans to retire next year.

Harden said he’d be fine with a January trial. When told March was more likely, he said he’d arrange new counsel for Peterson in that circumstance.

Van Soelen didn’t want an attorney to affect the fixed trial date, as the case would already be more than a year old. Mares and Peterson were charged in February.

“Do it soon,” Van Soelen told Harden, “so we don’t get a new attorney with two weeks before trial saying, ‘I’m brand new on this case; I need more time.’”

Incest is a third-degree felony, punishable by a maximum of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.