A status hearing was held Tuesday for Robert Iacobellis, the former Manhattan restaurant owner charged with more than two dozen counts of sexual abuse involving four individuals.
Judge Kendra Lewison, who is presiding over the case, announced that Salina attorney Julie Effenbeck has been appointed by as Iacobellis’ new attorney. The decision comes amid Iacobellis’ inability to hire his own counsel following his dismissal of former court-appointed attorneys Lora Ingels and Brenda Jordan, who had initially secured an Alford plea agreement with prosecutors earlier this year. Iacobellis withdrew that plea in early August. Effenbeck has not yet met with her new client.
Iacobellis, who was arrested in August 2019, stands charged with 27 counts, including sexual assault and rape, against four people who were minors at the time of the alleged incidents.
Judge Lewison set the case over for a 2:30 p.m. status hearing, via Zoom on November 7.
