UNION — Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the capital murder trial of Kenneth Lee Simpson will have plenty of time to prepare as the alleged cop killer’s day in court won’t take place at least until Jan. 20 of 2026.

Gasconade County Circuit Clerk Jennifer Schneider explained that the more-than-two-year wait is the result of 20th Circuit Presiding Judge Craig Hellmann not having a three-week block of time available until then. That’s how long court officials expect Simpson’s trial to take with about a full week expected to conduct the jury-selection process.

The case was moved to Franklin County Circuit Court on a change of venue from Gasconade County.

Simpson is facing eight felony charges and one misdemeanor charge. He faces the death penalty for the alleged killing March 12 of Hermann Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith and the serious wounding of Hermann patrolman Adam Sullentrup during a confrontation at Casey’s General Store on Highway 19. Sullentrup continues his recovery from the head wound he suffered in the shooting.

Meanwhile, Simpson recently was transferred from the Crawford County Jail — which houses inmates from Gasconade County awaiting trial — to the Franklin County Jail to be close to any legal proceedings that might be held leading up to the trial.

Having Simpson housed in the Franklin County Jail could have been a major expense for Gasconade County taxpayers — Franklin charges $50 per day to house prisoners. However, Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Eiler said he and Franklin Sheriff Steve Pelton reached an agreement in which Gasconade County would not be charged for Simpson’s stay, which would have been about $1,500 a month.

Eiler told the Gasconade County Republican such an expense would have wrecked his department’s Jail Fund, used to pay room-and-board charges of counties that house inmates from Gasconade County. Had Simpson remained in the Crawford County Jail, he would be the second long-term inmate for which Gasconade County was being charged $40 per day. The other inmate is Christine Weber, who has been in jail since late in 2020 awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge.

State government reimburses counties for their cost of housing inmates, but not by the same amount the counties pay. The state historically has reimbursed counties at less than $30 per day.