Continuance is granted in attempted murder case

HARTINGTON — Dist. Court Judge Bryan Meismer granted a continuance Monday in the attempted murder case of Kevin Haug.

Haug is facing two charges of attempted murder. 

He is accused of allegedly stabbing James Olson in Fordyce on July 2. 

He also stands accused of allegedly ramming a Cedar County Sheriff’s Department vehicle to escape law enforcement later that same day.

Haug was originally scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Jan. 11 on the charges, as well as a drug charge. 

After hearing Monday from Haug’s court-appointed attorney, Frederick Bartell, and from Cedar County Attorney Nick Matney, Judge Meismer agreed to move both of those cases to March 9.

Before the continuance was granted, however, Matney asked that Haug waive his right to a speedy trial. Bartell agreed to the stipulation.

With the pre-trial hearing pushed back, the trial itself also had to be moved. It was originally slated to begin in March.

The three-day trial is now slated to begin May 13 and run through May 15.

This was Haug’s first court appearance of the week. He is also slated to make an appearance in Cedar County Court Wednesday on new charges.

Matney filed two Class II Misdemeanor charges against Haug Dec. 31.  

Matney’s court filing claims Haug violated a protection order filed against him by attempting to contact Rhea Haug Sept. 5 and again Nov. 4.