Alabama developer faces trial for violations of the Clean Water Act

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - The trial date has changed for William R. Miller, a Fairhope, Ala., real estate developer accused of wetlands and Clean Water Act violations in Hancock County. U.S. District Judge Walter J. Gex III recused himself from hearing the case in July for unspecified reasons. The Sun Herald reports Judge Louis Guirola Jr. has set the trial for Dec. 2 because of budget issues raised by the Federal Public Defender's Office. Miller is accused of illegally filling large portions of wetlands for commercial development in 2007. Because of sequestration, public defenders have used up their maximum allotment of $2,400 for experts to defend him, but more money becomes available in October.