A trial date for Brian Tait, director of of Tait Funeral Home Inc. in Cazenovia, has been set for July 16.

Tait appeared before Chenango County Justice Brian D. Burns at 1:45 p.m. March 6 in the Madison County Courthouse for a chamber conference with the prosecuting team and defense counsel.

Tait recently changed attorneys, and is now being represented by Syracuse-based lawyer Emil M. Rossi.

Both declined to comment before heading into the courthouse.

Tait formerly sought the counsel of Robert C. Whitaker Jr., who represented him at his arraignment hearing in December. Whitaker declined to comment on the change.

Rossi will be tasked with submitting all defense motions by May 1, and a pre-trial conference will be held July 6.

At his arraignment, Tait plead not guilty to seven misdemeanor charges, including five counts of third-degree sexual abuse, one count of forcible touching and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, which stem from an October New York State Police investigation.

Additional details will be posted as more information is made available.

Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext.338 or [email protected].