A scheduled hearing for a defendant charged with child pornography possession had to be pushed back on Thursday because the Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office has not turned over discovery to the defense.

Kyle Craig, the defense attorney for defendant Sean Spillum, told Judge Doug Mattson that he requested discovery – the evidence and other information in the case – back on April 23. Ward County Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Nelson told the judge he does not know why the evidence had not been turned over to Craig. An officer was also waiting and ready to testify on Thursday at the preliminary hearing that had to be delayed.

Mattson, who has expressed concern over delays in turning over discovery in past cases, told Nelson he does not know whether a staffing issue is the reason for the delays. Mattson said he hopes this is a temporary problem with the state’s attorney’s office.

Spillum is charged with a Class C felony in district court.

No new preliminary hearing date has been scheduled as yet, but a pretrial conference is sset for July 24.