Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Attorney's Illness Forces Another Delay In Trial

Because of health problems, the first degree murder trial of Toby Craig, 28, of Hooks, Texas, will be continued indefinitely.

Chuck Honey, Craig's attorney, recently got out of the hospital after his second bout with pneumonia.

Monday, Honey said he is not at full capacity and has told the judge the trial needs to be delayed until his health returns. Craig's trial was first postponed from May 19, until June 16, but will again be continued.

"I don't know when the trial will be held," Honey said.

Along with Craig's trial being delayed, the trials of Johnny Wayne Cason, 26, of Arkadelphia, and Keith Buchheit, 24, also of Hooks, will also be delayed.

All three were charged in the beating death of Jakie McKinnon on Nov. 9, 1996.

According to reports, Craig and McKinnon had been arguing over deer hunting rights. This argument got out of hand when Craig was unable to pay his annual dues and was told by McKinnon to remove his deer stand from the leased property.

The problems between the two men escalated when McKinnon claimed Craig had "snitched" on him for hunting out of season, causing him to get a ticket.

The beating incident occurred in an area known as the Howard Creek Low Water Bridge Road, passed Suckle's Lake.

Trials for the three had been scheduled to start with Craig's on May 19. But, because of Honey's health problems, it was postponed until June 16. Now, it is being delayed once again. Cason's trial was set to follow Craig's on June 16, while Buchheit's trial was on tap for Aug. 11.

All three men are charged with the class Y felony of first degree murder. It carries a sentence of 10 to 40 years or life in prison.