Murder trial delayed for former principal

HARRISON — The trial of a former Omaha High School principal has been continued from March 27 to May 22 in Boone County Circuit Court in Harrison.

Rocky Brian Dodson, 52, is charged with second-degree murder in the March 6 death of his wife, Amanda Dodson, 36.

Dodson’s attorney, Shane Wilkinson, filed the motion for continuance Tuesday.

“Discovery in this case is voluminous …” wrote Wilkinson. “Given the nature of this case, undersigned counsel anticipates the discovery process to take some time. Some of the outstanding discovery material appears to include crime lab material.

“Defendant has retained an expert witness pathologist of his own who is currently reviewing the case and preparing his report. Counsel respectfully asks for additional time for his witness to perform his due diligence.”

Wilkinson asked that the February final hearing date and the March trial date be continued “to allow more time for a complete investigation of the facts of this case by both parties.”

Circuit Judge John Putman granted the request.

The final hearing is now scheduled for May 2.

Originally set for Sept. 23, Dodson’s jury trial has been continued four times.

According to a charging document in the case, “the defendant struck a blow to the throat of Amanda Dodson, which resulted in fractured, broken and crushed tracheal cartilage” resulting in her death.

Murder in the second degree is a Class A felony. A person convicted of a Class A felony faces a sentence of six to 30 years in prison, according to Arkansas Code Annotated 5-4-401(a)(2).

Rocky Dodson has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.

Dodson, who was also the high school boys basketball coach, resigned from the School District at the end of April.

Omaha is 3 miles south of the Missouri state line.