JEFFERSON COUNTY — Judge Jerry Crisel denied a defense motion this week to vacate the upcoming trial of a 28-year-old McLeansboro man accused in Jefferson County Court in two separate cases of child grooming.

Garrett Biggerstaff was a pastor at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Fairfield, at the time of his arrest. The church has since terminated him.

Biggerstaff’s attorney filed a motion this week requesting the final pretrial hearing and the jury trial in two cases against the defendant be vacated. However, Judge Crisel denied that request and ordered the trial to be held on September 18 as scheduled.

Investigations into the two cases began in September 2022 when Benton Police received information from a juvenile claiming to be the target of sexual exploitation.

Officers handling the complaint in Benton contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and started a coordinated investigation that ultimately resulted in a search of Biggerstaff’s homes.

Investigators say a collection of evidence revealed a second juvenile victim and the completed investigation was turned over to the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Warrants were then issued on January 4, 2023, for Biggerstaff’s arrest and he was taken into custody the following day.

According to documents from a board meeting at Spring Garden Consolidated Community School District, Biggerstaff served as the school’s athletic director until his resignation in November, when the case went public.