NEW CUMBERLAND — The next court appearance for a former Hancock County sheriff’s deputy charged with child pornography possession won’t be a trial after all.

According to a Hancock County Circuit Court spokesperson, Patrick Hoder now is slated for a pretrial hearing at 9 a.m. Sept. 5.

In April, Circuit Court Judge Joseph Barki had scheduled him for trial Sept. 3-5.

No explanation was given for the change.

Last summer, Hoder had been charged with felony distribution or exhibition of sexually explicit conduct involving minors (600 or more images), after a West Virginia State Police investigation had traced the images to Hoder.

Upon learning of the initial investigations, Hancock County Sheriff Scott Gittings immediately put Hoder on administrative leave and later elected to terminate him once criminal charges resulted.

Hoder had been a longtime K-9 handler as well as overseeing some of the office’s community outreach programs.

If convicted, Hoder faces up to 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.