GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The trial for a former teacher accused of sexually assaulting students has been postponed for a third time, this time because his new attorney still needs time to prepare for the case.
David Villareal, 47, faces four charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child for incidents in 2015 and 2016.
His newest attorney, Kirk Obear, was retained in December. Earlier this month, Obear told the court he would try to be ready for a Jan. 30 trial, but informed the court Monday that simply wasn’t possible given the amount of evidence he has to review.
“I sincerely believe that going forward on January 30, either with Mr. Villareal representing himself, or with counsel which will be ineffective, will only create an appellate issue that I am sure that all parties would rather avoid,” Obear wrote Monday. “I am merely asking for the opportunity to do my job properly and provide the assistance of counsel that Mr. Villareal desires.”
During a hearing Tuesday Judge Donald Zuidmulder moved the trial to April 24.
All of the incidents involved female students at Baird Elementary in 2015 and 2016. Villareal resigned after the first charges were filed in 2022.
