Judge recuses self for toddler homicide trial

(Pryor-AP) -- A district judge has recused himself from the trial of a Big Cabin couple accused in a toddler's death. <br><br>District Judge James Goodpaster says he has known the defendants and

Wednesday, May 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Pryor-AP) -- A district judge has recused himself from the trial of a Big Cabin couple accused in a toddler's death.

District Judge James Goodpaster says he has known the defendants and their family for some time.

Goodpaster announced the recusal at the couple's district court arraignment for the death of two-and-a-half-year-old Benjamin Michael Schoonover yesterday.

Arraignment for 62-year-old John Edward Schoonover and4 9-year-old Gilda Marie Schoonover was continued until June 30th.

The Schoonovers were the boys prospective adoptive parents.

The couple took the unconscious toddler to a Tulsa hospital where he died on October 31st. Physicians and the medical examiner determined that his injuries were not accidental and couldn't have been caused in the ways suggested by the Schoonovers.