Korey Kauffman murder case on hiatus for 2 weeks

A preliminary hearing is on hiatus for two weeks in a case involving Modesto defense attorney Frank Carson and five others charged in the disappearance and slaying of Turlock resident Korey Kauffman.

Carson, a prominent Modesto defense attorney, is accused of recruiting a group of people to send a violent message to thieves repeatedly stealing antiques and scrap metal from his 5-acre property in Turlock.

Authorities say Kauffman, 26, was last seen alive on March 30, 2012, leaving Mike Cooley’s Lander Avenue home. Cooley’s home and Carson’s property on Ninth Street were separated by a fence.

At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for the defendants to stand trial. The hearing is expected to continue into next year.

Testimony is scheduled to resume Dec. 14 with Ronald Cooper Jr. on the witness stand. Cooper has already testified that he witnessed Carson in heated arguments with people about antiques stolen from his 5-acre Turlock property.

In recent days, attorneys have been arguing over whether witnesses were promised leniency in exchange for their testimony.

Cooley is expected to testify at some point about confrontations with Carson. Robert Lee Woody also is expected to testify.

Woody is accused of murder in Kauffman’s death but is being prosecuted separately. After his co-defendants were arrested in mid-August, Woody decided to cooperate with investigators. He had spent more than a year in jail as the only publicly identified suspect in the Kauffman murder case.

The defense says Woody has given investigators conflicting stories, including one account in which he claims sole responsibility for Kauffman’s death. Woody’s testimony and cross-examination are expected to be lengthy.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Korey Kauffman murder case on hiatus for 2 weeks."