This morning a U.S. District Judge in Anchorage moved Joshua Wade’s upcoming trial date. It’s the second rescheduling since Wade was first indicted on bank fraud charges.
U.S. Judge Ralph Beistline reset the first of Wade’s trials to February 19, 2008. The first trial is focused on two charges related to a felon possessing firearms and one count of marijuana possession while in jail. Those charges arose after a federal grand jury indicted Wade in September on two counts of financial institution fraud, one count of fraud with an access device and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Wade, 27, is accused of using Mindy Schloss’s ATM card in August to make two $500 withdrawals. The Anchorage woman lived alone next to where Wade was staying. She was last seen alive August 3 and her body was found September 13 in thick woods near Wasilla. Anchorage police continue to investigate Schloss’s death.
Separately, Wade’s fraud trial was scheduled for January 7, 2008.
He will remain in jail until trial.
Wade’s Federal Public Attorney, Mary Geddis, has requested a change of venue. She cites media attention on this case plus a previous murder trial where Wade was found innocent. She also asked the first trial be separated into three trials. After the judge reviews the U.S. Attorneys’ responses, he will decide on the requests.
Len Anderson, KSKA – Anchorage
