Trial date set for case linked to "S-Town" podcast
By Associated Press
Jul 20, 2017 8:11 AM CDT
In this Wednesday, May 3, 2017 photo, Tyler Goodson of the hit podcast "S-Town" stands at the grave in Green Pond, Ala., of friend John B. McLemore, who is also featured in the serialized show. A judge has set an Oct. 16 trial date for Goodson, named in a mulit-count indictment related to an alleged...   (Associated Press)

CENTREVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man featured in the hit podcast "S-Town" is scheduled to go on trial in October on charges related to events in the story.

A Bibb County judge signed an order Thursday setting an Oct. 16 trial date for 26-year-old Tyler Goodson of Woodstock, court records show.

Goodson has pleaded not guilty to a multi-count indictment alleging he took lumber, old vehicles and a laptop computer from the property of his friend John B. McLemore, the main character in "S-Town."

The case relates to something that happened during production of the podcast about McLemore's life in the rural Alabama town, located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Birmingham.

Circuit Judge Donald L. McMillan Jr. also set a Sept. 19 hearing on a request by Goodson to move the trial to another county because of the immense popularity of the podcast, which the defense claims makes it impossible to get a fair trial in Bibb County.

The defense suggested the case be moved to Wilcox County, which is even more rural than Bibb County. Wilcox is "likely free from the influence of podcasts generally," the defense argued in the request.

"S-Town" tells the story of an alleged murder and another death, and winds up focusing on McLemore's tortured relationship with the town of Woodstock, his own inner demons, and Goodson.