Delay denied in trial of ex-Arkansas juvenile officers

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)   A federal judge has rejected a request to delay the trial of two former Arkansas juvenile detention officers on charges of conspiring to assault at least four juvenile inmates.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first reported that Judge Billy Roy Wilson denied the request by attorneys for Will Ray and Thomas Farris last Wednesday.

Defense attorneys said the delay is needed because an attorney assigned to assist them is no longer available and must be replaced.

Ray and Farris are scheduled for trial starting Dec. 11 on charges of conspiring to assault the juveniles at the White River Juvenile Detention Center in Batesville.

Both have pleaded not guilty to allegations of pepper spraying, choking, shoving and grabbing the teens. Prosecutors say none of the juveniles were a physical threat to anyone at the time of the alleged assaults.

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