State District Judge Recuses Himself In Lake Charles

State District Judge David Ritchie says that he doesn't want to be involved with former judge Greg Lyons' felony theft trial. He stated that he wanted to avoid "any appearance of impropriety."

Lyons is currently on trial for 13 counts of felony theft. The prosecutor is the state attorney general.

Lyons is also being accused of stealing from clients back in 2007, but the attorney general hasn't stated if those six charges are included with the 13 that Lyon's is being tried on.

He has to stand trial in the 14th Judicial District, where he served as a judge for 18 years before returning to private practice back in 2001.

The trial was scheduled for September 24th, but is now rescheduled for February 4th.