The federal child pornography trial of a Pike County man has been delayed until early next year. This is to allow time for a psychiatrist to evaluate him in anticipation of an insanity defense.

 

39-year-old Robert Preston, of Shelbiana, was initially charged with producing child pornography a year ago. Preston would later receive charges for possessing child porn and cyberstalking.

 

He stands accused of coercing a minor to engage-in and record sexually explicit conduct over the course of an 11-month period between 2016 and 2017. He was also later accused of using Snapchat as a means of intimidating and harassing an unidentified person in 2019.

 

Preston had sought to enter a guilty plea earlier in the year, but his attorney expressed concerns regarding his mental health. A later evaluation concluded that Preston was competent to stand trial. His attorney is currently still seeking to pursue an insanity defense.

 

The new trial date has been set for January 3rd, 2023.