Word on theft trial site will come in November

PROVO — A possible change of venue in the trial of a former Brigham Young University finance officer accused of stealing money from the school will not determined until November.

According to Fourth District Court records, a hearing scheduled Wednesday in the case of John Davis, 60, was rescheduled for Nov. 19.

The hearing will address a motion filed by Davis' defense attorney, Larry Keller, asking that the trial be moved to Summit County or Salt Lake County, where fewer members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reside. Nearly 90 percent of Utah County residents are members of the LDS Church.

Since BYU is owned by the LDS Church, Keller has argued that church members might be biased in favor of the school and unable to judge evidence fairly because a portion of tithing paid by church members is allocated to BYU.

Davis is charged with seven second-degree felony counts of theft and one second-degree count of racketeering for allegedly embezzling more than $300,000 from BYU.