History Nebraska, formerly known as the Nebraska State Historical Society, is located just off the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 1500 R St. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)
LINCOLN — The former director of the state historical society is asking that a felony charge he faces be dismissed because he hasn’t received a speedy trial.
Trevor Jones, 52, faces up to 20 years in prison for felony theft by deception, a charge sparked by a critical state audit in 2022 — an audit first reported by the Nebraska Examiner.
Jones, who resigned from the $164,800-a-year job just before the audit was released, was formally charged in July 2023. He now argues that the felony must be dismissed because he has been denied his right to a speedy trial.
In a brief filed recently, Jones’ attorney, Mallory Hughes, argued that by her calculation, her client should have faced a trial by Sept. 12.
“ … The record shows the Defendant has not done anything to delay, continue, reschedule, or otherwise create a “good cause” scenario which might support setting trial in this case beyond the … deadline,” Hughes maintained.