He entered not guilty pleas on all counts.
Blazich, 52, had first appeared in Macon County Circuit Court Sept. 16, 2020, for a preliminary hearing on identical charges involving the same victim and had also entered not guilty pleas. Judge James Coryell ruled in that hearing there was sufficient evidence to try him on all counts.
Blazich
But that case was dismissed at a hearing Dec. 11 after Macon County Stateâs Attorney Scott Rueter said an assistant stateâs attorney in his office had made him aware of âevidentiary issues.â Rueter, who was only elected as stateâs attorney in November, decided the case started under his predecessor could not proceed at that time.