Larson's Trial Confirmed for May

A trial date during the first week of May was confirmed Thursday morning for rural Altamont resident Steven Larson.

The 60-year-old Larson is charged with two counts of kidnapping along with counts of indecent solicitation of a child, unlawful restraint and obstructing justice. The counts stem from the January 31 disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from rural Effingham who was located later with Larson in a motel in Sikeston, Missouri. Larson faces additional charges in Missouri stemming from the same incident. Those counts include child kidnapping, statutory rape in the first degree and child molestation in the first degree. Larson will face the Missouri charges once the local case is concluded.

The Effingham County trial is technically scheduled to begin May 4, but Judge Kimberly Koester told Larson it could begin anytime early that first week of May. Larson is due back in court for a final pre-trial hearing at 1pm on May 1.

Larson is being held in Effingham County Jail under $250,000 bond.