A judge recently determined that a man out of Pike County was competent enough to stand trial in a child pornography case. He also recommended that his case proceed.

 

39-year-old Robert Preston, of Shelbiana, is charged in federal court with producing and possessing child porn in addition to cyberstalking.

 

Preston claimed he had reached a plea deal with prosecutors back in April when he asked the court to be allowed to plead guilty.

 

Preston’s attorney felt he was not in the right frame of mind to make the decision, which led to the competency evaluation.

 

That evaluation concluded that Preston was competent for trial. A magistrate judge has recommended that the case proceed, but a district judge must still approve that recommendation.

 

Whether or not Preston still intends to enter into a guilty plea is unclear at this time.