Effingham Attorney, Scott Ealy, is now serving as the private counsel for Robert Pendergast.
According to Ealy, he entered his appearance as private counsel in court on Thursday morning, when Pendergast appeared for a hearing. Ealy stated that he appeared with Pendergast and the Public Defender was discharged from the case. Ealy requested a new jury trial date, which was granted. Pendergast’s jury trial will now be held on January 8, 2018 at 8:30am and will have a status hearing on October 18th.
58 year old, Robert Pendergast, of Effingham was arrested in May following a disturbance that occurred on Edgar Drive. 53 year old, Corey Stice was injured in the disturbance and later passed away. Pendergast is being charged with Aggravated Battery Resulting in Great Bodily Harm, a Class 3 Felony and Involuntary Manslaughter of a Family Member, a Class 2 Felony.
All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.Â