Hagerla Awaits New Trial Date

Hagerla Awaits New Trial Date
By Echo Menges

In a case that began back in 2009 Douglas Hagerla was in Knox County Circuit Court Friday, April 8, 2011 for a hearing. A State vs. Douglas L. Hagerla trial was set to begin March 1, 2011 but was taken off the court’s docket weeks before and the April hearing was scheduled.
At the April hearing no new trial date was scheduled, rather another trial setting or disposition hearing was scheduled for Friday, July 8, 2011. Knox County Circuit Court Judge Russell Steele is presiding over the case and Knox County Prosecutor David Brown and Assistant Prosecutor Jo Fortney is prosecuting it. Hagerla’s defense attorneys are Michael R. Hansen and Michael R. Kruse who have a law office in O’Fallon, Missouri.
Hagerla faces a charge of First Degree Deviant Sexual Intercourse With A Person Under 14 Years Of Age to which he has pled not guilty. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.