Trial cancelled

Oconee court officers say there has been a continuance in John Doe versus Richard “Trey” Gardner III.  The trial, alleging assault/slander/libel, had been scheduled to start this morning as part of a non-jury term of the Oconee Common Pleas Court.  The case involves a Greenville County man, identified by court documents as John Doe, and his allegations against Gardner that date back 15 years when the plaintiff, a child, was a Walhalla sixth grader and Gardner was a teacher and coach.  Gardner has since been sent to prison for sexually abusing students.  According to court officers, under state prison escort, Gardner was brought this morning to the courthouse—only to find out that the trial had been continued.  According to one court officer, the trial is unlikely to be re-scheduled until at least February.