The former reserve Nashville police officer facing charges for pursuing a motorcyclist through Bartholomew County will be represented by a public defender. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Columbus’ Whitted Law Firm was named to represent 25-year-old Leonard Burch, of Columbus, during a Wednesday hearing in Bartholomew Superior Court 2.

According to the report, Magistrate Joe Meek set a pre-trial hearing for Burch at 1:30 p.m. on April 19, while his trial date was moved to May 18. The paper is reporting that a half-day has been set aside for the trial as Burch has said in previous court hearings he plans to seek a jury trial.

A probable-cause affidavit filed in Bartholomew County accuses the former off-duty officer of pursuing 18-year-old motorcyclist Xavier Scrogham, of Hope, recklessly at a high rate of speed through Columbus and part of rural Bartholomew County. That pursuit ultimately ended in Scrogham crashing his motorcycle and dying.

Burch is facing misdemeanor charges of False Informing and Reckless Driving.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.