FAYETTE COUNTY, IL — A delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic runs the risk of violating the speedy trial clock in a Fayette County child sex crime case.

The case was brought before Judge Michael McHaney Tuesday in Fayette County Court where the defendant, 40-year-old Robert Branham was requesting a reduction to his $100,000 bail. Branham was arrested in August on five Class 1 felony counts of criminal sexual assault – one charge is by force and the other four of family a family member under the age of 18. Judge McHaney denied the request to lower the defendants bail after the prosecution objected to the defendant being released on his own recognizance. The judge then advised that the delay attributed to the pandemic runs the risk of a speedy trial violation to be raised on appeal if a jury trial results in a conviction.

All five counts against Branham are punishable by four to 15 years in prison. A final pre-trial hearing in the case is scheduled for January 12, with a jury trial set for January 18.

Branham filed a demand for a speedy trial just days after his August 3, 2020 arrest.