Beard v. State

Beasley, Judge.

Beard was convicted of molesting a 13-year-old female child. (OCGA § 16-6-4.)

1. The first question is whether the court erred in denying his motion for a continuance.

Beard’s case came to trial over a year after the incident and more than eight months after indictment. He had surrendered for arrest less than two weeks after the incident and had already retained counsel, at whose request a comprehensive preliminary hearing was held and transcribed. That counsel conducted extensive negotiations with the district attorney. After the trial was set, defendant fired his first counsel.…