It's

trial season in Fayette County.

two-week session of criminal jury trials starts

up Monday in Fayette Superior Court. This is a

twice-a-year occurrence, except for special cases

that are occasionally tried separately.

The

action will be taking place in two courtrooms

simultaneously. Judges Ben Miller and Chris

Edwards will be presiding.

First

up for assistant district attorney Tom Woodward

is Bryan Keith McElroy, who is charged with

criminal trespass, theft by taking, driving on a

suspended license and simple battery, according

to the trial calendar. Woodward said that McElroy

is accused of stealing a minivan in 1997.

Woodward

expects that case to take a day or a day and a

half, after which he will prosecute Michael Allan

Steadham, who is charged with theft by taking.

Assistant

district attorney Jim Harden said that he really

can't tell who his first case will be Monday.

Aside from another day of pleas this Thursday,

there will likely be motions and other factors

that could push some cases further back.

"Then,

when we get in there on Monday, some of them just

don't show up," he said. Those that fail to

appear will have bench warrants served on them,

he added.

total of 168 cases are listed on the trial

calendar. About 60 were pled before this week,

Harden said.

There

are no homicides to be tried during this session,

according to Woodward.