New judge assigned to Missouri trooper death case

MEXICO, Mo. (AP) -- A different judge has been assigned to the case of a Missouri man accused in the 2015 death of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that the Missouri Supreme Court has assigned the case against Serghei Comerzan to St. Charles County Circuit Judge Ted House. He'll replace Wesley Dalton, circuit judge for Audrain, Randolph and Montgomery counties.

Prosecutors sought the new judge.

Comerzan of Mexico, Missouri, is charged with second-degree murder in the August 2015 death of 25-year-old trooper James Bava. Authorities say Comerzan was traveling at 105 mph when the trooper tried to stop him on a highway in Audrain County and his patrol car crashed.

House will set a date to sit on the bench in Audrain County for Comerzan's arraignment.