PORT ANGELES — The trial of former Olympic Medical Center doctor Josiah Hill originally set for April 10 has been changed to June 5 to allow the prosecution and defense more time to review evidence.
A status hearing to check their progress was set Friday for March 24 in Clallam County Superior Court.
Jared Ausserer, defense attorney for Hill, requested the continuance of the trial, telling Judge Simon Barnhart that more time was needed to go through over 4,000 pages of discovery (evidence) and to conduct interviews.
Ausserer also said that the prosecution had indicated to him that more discovery may be coming as well as more charges could be filed.
Michele Devlin, chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney, reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that she expects more allegations to be filed by the Port Angeles Police Department.
She also is awaiting investigative documents previously requested from Olympic Medical Center, she said.
Multiple counts
At least six women have come forward alleging that Hill sexually assaulted them while he was an emergency department physician at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
Hill is currently facing multiple counts of indecent liberties by a healthcare provider and at least one count of rape in the second degree.
Hill has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Some of the alleged victims have elected to file civil suits against Olympic Medical Center in addition to, or instead of, pursuing criminal charges against Hill.
“We keep getting more disclosures,” Devlin said.
In court on Friday Ausserer also asked if the prosecution will continue with one of the criminal cases filed against Hill despite the accuser being recently deceased.
The woman was one of the 10 people in Clallam County to die from the flu in January.
Devlin said the prosecution would move forward in that case regardless of the person being deceased.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com
