A judge denied three motions in a case against former workers' compensation director Sandy Blunt, including a motion to dismiss the charges, a motion to dismiss additional information and a motion to move the trial out of Burleigh County.

The motion to dismiss amended information centers around evidence presented by the state that allege Blunt misallocated an additional $200,000 in funds, via mispaid sick leave, moving expenses and grants.

But the initial felony charges were for the alleged misspending of a little more than $18,000 in funds; count one is for the alleged misallocation of more than $10,000 related to gift cards and party favors, and the other is for misapplication of funds exceeding $500, for alleged illegal bonuses to high-level employees.

Michael Hoffman, Blunt's attorney, said the additional expenditures presented by the state in September violated his client's right to due process, not giving them time to prepare a defense to the information. But Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Cynthia Feland argued at a pretrial conference last week that it was simply additional evidence that help prove a pattern.

South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick filed an order denying the three motions on Nov. 4; the trial is set for early December. Romanick denied an earlier motion to dismiss the charges on Sept. 26 and denied the motion again Nov. 4.

As for moving the trial, Hoffman argued that media attention surrounding his client would not provide him with a fair trial in Burleigh County; Romanick wrote that the court must try to assemble a jury before deciding to transfer.

"The Court is aware that this case has been extensively covered by the media," Romanick said in his order. "The Court is also aware that before a case is to be moved, an attempt must be made to seat a jury. This motion is premature and the Court denies the motion to transfer as it is not clear that a fair and impartial jury cannot be found in Burleigh County."