Todd Edwards Court Hearing Continued to Sept. 18

A court hearing today for the former Menifee Mormon bishop charged with sexual battery on two teenage girls was continued to Sept. 18 at Riverside Superior Court.

This is the third continuance of a felony settlement conference for Todd M. Edwards, 49, who previously entered a not guilty plea to charges of sexual battery, sexual penetration with a foreign object and witness intimidation. The charges involve separate incidents with two teenage girls who allegedly attended the Menifee Ward, where Edwards once served as bishop.

Clad in an orange jump suit, shackled at the hands and feet and wearing a full beard, Edwards spoke quietly when addressing the judge during his brief court appearance this morning. He waived his right to a speedy trial and will remain in custody on $65,000 bail pending his next court date.

A previous request to reduce the bail amount was denied.

A felony settlement conference is a hearing before the preliminary hearing in which both parties can discuss the case and try to settle it. The defendant has an opportunity to change his plea during that process.