Through his counsel, Maxwell Hunt Winkler has requested that his case be set for a hearing to change his plea. The cause had been set for a jury trial to begin on January 19, 2016. His request states that "this case will be resolved by a plea agreement and should be set for Guilty Plea Hearing." The Defendant has requested the hearing be held on January 7, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. That request was granted by the Court. Further details will be neither provided nor discussed until the hearing has been held.
Mr. Winkler remains held at the Hamilton County Jail.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. In this case, the Defendant has merely asked for a change of plea hearing; he must still be afforded his presumption of innocence until and unless a conviction is entered -- be it through trial or a court-accepted admission.