Judge again delays trial of Sedgwick County commissioner

Wichita — A federal judge has delayed until late next month the fraud trial of Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren set the trial to begin Feb. 25 in Wichita after meeting with attorneys during a Monday status conference. A trial had been previously set for Jan. 29.

Attorneys agreed the trial would likely take five days.

The government has accused O’Donnell of fraudulently obtaining $10,500 from his campaign accounts for his personal use. An indictment charges him with 23 counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering.

The Wichita Republican was elected to the state Senate in 2012 for a term that ended in January 2017. He did not run for re-election and instead was elected to the Sedgwick County Commission. His term expires in 2020.

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