After being indicted in mid-May for receiving, possessing and transporting child pornography, a trial date of July 25 was set Wednesday for Austin Police Detective Lance McConnell.
McConnell's defense is in the process of discovery, or trying to find out what evidence the prosecution is using, according to Rip Collins, McConnell's attorney.
"It's a long, slow process," Collins said.
In March of 2005, computers, cameras and photos in McConnell's house were seized by police and searched for evidence of child pornography reported by America Online, Inc.
McConnell was indicted on May 17. He was alleged to have dozens of photos of minors, both boys and girls, engaged in sexual conduct, according to court documents.
He surrendered himself to U.S. Marshals the next morning.
On March 23, McConnell, who began working for Austin Police Department in 1998, was put on administrative leave with pay, according to APD.
On May 26, McConnell entered a plea of not guilty. The next day, he was put on indefinite suspension from his job at APD without pay. If found not guilty, "he will be attempting to retrieve his job," Collins said.
McConnell was released on May 19, but will not be required to pay his $10,000 bond unless he fails to appear before the court or is accused of another crime.
Bond conditions require that he has no contact with minor children, according to prosecutor Grant Sparks. This stipulation includes his own children.
"He is not currently living at home with his wife and two sons," Collins said.
McConnell is living with his father who was appointed as a third-party custodian, taking responsibility for McConnell's actions through the trial.
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