WOODLAND — A Davis molest case pending since early 2012 may resolve before going to trial.
Justin Prentice Morejohn, 33, is charged with 10 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under age 14 in connection with alleged acts that authorities say occurred between July 1999 and December 2001, when Morejohn and the two alleged victims were members of the Grace Valley Christian Center in rural West Davis.
The case was set for trial in March, but postponed when one of the alleged victims was not available to testify. On Friday, both the prosecuting and defense attorneys met privately in Yolo Superior Court Judge Paul K. Richardson’s chambers.
After they emerged, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Rob Gorman had this to say in court: “We are still diligently working toward resolving this case,” but would require several more weeks for negotiations.
Richardson set a future court date of May 8.
Morejohn, who was employed as a California Highway Patrol officer by the time the allegations arose in late 2011, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Grace Valley officials have said the alleged crimes did not occur on church property or during a church-sanctioned activity.