Temporary judge appointed in Bicknell

BICKNELL, Ind. (WTHI) - The Indiana Supreme Court appointed a new attorney to become a temporary judge in a southern Indiana City Court.

Michael Edwards is a Naval Academy graduate, former Marine, and now the city court judge in Bicknell.

Edwards will take over bench in Bicknell of Nov. 16. He will fill in for Judge Andrew Moreland who was suspended after being arrested for theft.

"We've been without a judge for probably going on a month at least and we're going to welcome him," Bicknell Mayor Jon Flickinger said. "Glad to have him."

Meanwhile, Moreland and his wife, Cindy, had an initial hearing in Knox Superior Court 2.

Both had preliminary not guilty pleas entered on their behalf on five counts each of theft. The pair are accused of taking $20,000 dollars from the city court funds.

The Morelands are set for trial on April 21.