DA hopes to start trial for Chowchilla officer in June

Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn says he hopes to start the trial of a former Chowchilla Police officer in June, 2017.

“The shorter we can make the time on a case involving a minor, the better it is for the minor,” Linn said. “And we believe we are fully prepared to go forward as soon as possible, and June looks like a date where the defense should be prepared also.”

At the Madera County Superior Court, a new trial-setting date for defendant Tyler J. Hormel was scheduled for Jan. 13 by Madera County Judge Joseph Soldani on Wednesday. Hormel’s attorney, Roger Nuttall, has stated that while has other cases that he is currently working on, he hopes that a June setting will give him adequate time to prepare for the coming trial.

“I truly hope I can do some good for him,” Nuttall said about his client. “I think he’s a good man.”

Hormel, who served as a school resource officer in Chowchilla, faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor (including two counts of forcible rape) and three counts of unlawful sexual acts with a minor under the age of 16.

The alleged victim, known in the courtroom as “Jane Doe,” was Hormel’s foster daughter. She was 14 when the alleged incidents began.

Hormel was arrested by Grayson in February, at a mental hospital in Sacramento.

Defense, however, indicated in the preliminary hearing in August Hormel did not rape Doe, and that the alleged victim had pursued the defendant romantically.

The prosecution team for the trial will be headed by Deputy District Attorney Traci Wise. According to Linn, he is confident in her ability to handle case.

“Traci is working very closely with the victim at the present time,” Linn said. “And I fully expect that the case will go to trial in June.”