DragonCon founder’s molestation trial gets new date

Maybe the fourth time’s the charm.

A trial date in the child molestation case against DragonCon founder Ed Kramer has been set at least three times since Kramer was arrested on Aug. 25, 2000, but one delay after another has forestalled it. Kramer’s chronic health issues have been the main reason for the repeated continuances, said Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter. Attorneys for both sides on Wednesday tentatively to set a new trial date for May 11.

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Vino Wong/vwong@ajc.com

Ed Kramer suffers from spinal cord injuries that affect his ability to breathe.

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Kramer is a science-fiction author who founded DragonCon, a sci-fi, fantasy and gaming convention that brings thousands of visitors to Atlanta every year. He is accused of molesting three teenage boys.

Porter said special arrangments may have to be made to accomodate Kramer, who suffers from severe spinal cord injuries that affect his ability to breathe. Kramer’s doctor advised that he be tried for just two hours at a time, for no more than a total of four hours a day.

“We’re sort of trying to figure out a way, because you can’t really try a case at that pace,” Porter said.

Porter said some options that have been discussed are bringing in furniture that would allow Kramer to sit more comfortably. Prosecutors may also consider doing a Web-cast of the trial, if Kramer waives his right to be present in the courtroom.

Kramer has been awaiting trial under house arrest since 2001. A judge ruled in May that he no longer had to be tethered to his home by an electronic monitoring system as long as he checked in daily with the district attorney’s office concerning his whereabouts.