A local man

accused of child molestation might be jailed until he stands trial after

he missed a second scheduled trial date under questionable medical circumstances.

And just in

case he's hospitalized again during his next trial date, Farrell Loyd

Pitts has been ordered to prepare a system by which he could attend trial

electronically through a remote location ... such as a hospital room.

Pitts was scheduled

to stand trial last Monday for child molestation, aggravated sodomy and

enticing a child for indecent purposes. But he was admitted to the hospital

complaining of chest pains the previous Friday and wasn't released until

Tuesday.

Superior Court

Judge Christopher Edwards has ordered a hearing for May 31 to determine

whether Pitts' $100,000 bond should be revoked.

The offenses

involved a 6-year-old boy back in April 1998, according to the indictment

filed against Pitts.

In his order,

Edwards pointed out that Pitts' cardiologist and regular physician said

there was little evidence Pitts suffered a recent heart attack or significant

cardiac event.

"The defendant's

doctors and counsel know of no other recent hospitalizations except these

two that are conspicuously coincidental to the defendant's scheduled jury

trials," Edwards wrote. "... The defendant's hospitalization

has effectively operated to obtain him continuance to which he is not

legally entitled."

Edwards ordered

Pitts and his attorney, Ed Garland, to prepare a live audio/visual transmission

system to allow Pitts to stand trial from a remote location if necessary.

The system must insure that Pitts and his attorney can communicate in

private as he would be allowed to do in a normal trial.

In ordering

the May 31 bond hearing, Edwards noted, "It appears proper that the

defendant show cause why his bond should not be revoked and why he wouldn't

be incarcerated pending trial."

During a conference

call Tuesday with Edwards, Pitts' cardiologist said he would be prescribed

medication to ease chest pains he might suffer during the trial.

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