Following some reassigning within the Department of Public Advocacy, Dustin Underwood has a new public defender.
During Wednesday’s pre-trial conference at Trigg County Circuit Court, Jason Pfeil noted to Circuit Judge C.A. “Woody” Woodall III that he hadn’t had time to meet with his new client, currently lodged in the Western Kentucky Corrections Complex, to discuss his case — due to the recent reshuffling of representation.
Woodall granted 60 days for Pfeil to speak with Underwood, and set the next pre-trial conference for March 9.
Prior to Pfeil taking over, Commonwealth’s attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins and Underwood’s previous public defender, Mary Rohrer, were approaching a plea agreement his case — in which he is charged in connection with a May 2020 stabbing in southern Trigg County.
Underwood is currently incarcerated for second-degree criminal attempt of arson involving an incident in 2017, but since has been charged with attempted murder, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and being a persistent felony offender.
He was out on shock probation for the 2019 conviction of the 2017 attempted arson when in May 2020, he was booked by police on new charges — allegedly using a knife to cut a 35-year-old man’s jawline during a fight.
Underwood has a trial date set for July 18.
