By Billy Davis

A trial date for Batesville doctor Robert Corkern and two co-defendants has been reset for January 2012.

Attorneys for the doctor petitioned the U.S. District Court in Oxford to allow them more time to prepare for trial scheduled for December 12.

An order from Judge Neal Biggers Jr. rescheduled the trial for Monday, January 9.

Corkern is facing a five-count federal indictment accusing him of bribery, fraud and conspiracy, all related to his tenure as head of Tri-Lakes Medical Center from 2005 to 2007.

He was arraigned October 11 at a hearing in Aberdeen, where he pleaded not guilty and is free on $40,000 bond.

Attorney Parker Still of Batesville and attorney William Travis of Southaven are representing Corkern.
Co-defendants Ray Shoemaker and Lee Garner were indicted earlier this year, accused by the federal government of colluding in a kickback scheme with former county administrator David Chandler.  

Corkern later emerged as the third co-defendant in a federal investigation that has centered on past leadership at Tri-Lakes.

A superseding indictment that named Corkern also added new allegations against Shoemaker.

The Panolian has reported that Chandler is set to plead guilty to two unknown counts at a court appearance November 9 in Oxford in front of U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock.

Chandler is cooperating with federal authorities according to his attorney, Hiram Eastland Jr.