Larson in Missouri; Local Trial Vacated for Now

Steven Larson is in Missouri, so his local trial date has been vacated with no new date for now.

The 60-year-old Larson faces two counts of kidnapping locally as well as counts of indecent solicitation of a child, unlawful restraint and obstructing justice. The charges were filed after Larson was found with a 13-year-old rural Effingham girl in a motel in Sikeston, Missouri.

Larson also faces charges in Missouri of child kidnapping, statuatory rape in the first degree and child molestation in the first degree stemming from the same incident. He waived extradition last week, meaning he could be returned to Missouri to face those charges, some of which carry stiffer potential penalties than the Effingham County charges. Effingham County Public Defender Scott Schmidt said Larson was picked up by Missouri authorities on Thursday.

In the meantime, Judge Kimberly Koester formally vacated Larson's local trial date. The trial was scheduled to begin on Monday. No new trial date was scheduled, since it's unclear when Larson might return from Missouri, but Judge Koester set the case for status on July 28.

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler has said that Larson would be tried on the local charges before he is prosecuted in Missouri. Larson's $250,000 local bond remains in effect.