As the court session draws closer for Pike County, District Attorney Gary McAliley is preparing for trial.

Fortunately, his caseload won't be as great as the criminal docket shows because many took advantage of the plea bargain day offered by the three district judges last Friday.

'A lot of these cases have plead,' McAliley said.

'All of the judges set a time aside for the defendants and their attorneys to come in and enter guilty pleas and a great number people did that,' he said.

As of Tuesday, 44 felony defendants have plead guilty, McAliley said.

He expects another 10 to do so before trial.

In Pike County, McAliley expects his office to hand about 32 cases in courts.

Among charges in those cases: DUI, arson, robbery, drug-related cases, domestic violence, assault, escape, theft, burglary, receiving stolen property, wildlife violations and illegal possession and sale of firearms.

A number of cases - including the trial of Timothy Dewayne Spivey, accused of nine counts of theft of property from the Pike County Board of Education - have been continued until the next term of court, McAliley said.