A trial for a man accused of trying to hire someone to kill two Bismarck men has been moved to July.

Robert Rutherford now is slated to stand trial July 29. His trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday but was moved earlier this month, due to physical and psychological "difficulties" Rutherford had been having while imprisoned in another case.

Rutherford, 46, was indicted on Jan. 9 by a grand jury on felony charges of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, causing interstate travel in the commission of murder-for-hire, using mail in the commission of murder for hire and two counts of threatening communications.

The first three charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum for each of the two counts of threatening communications is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Rutherford has been accused of offering an acquaintance he met while serving a prison sentence money to kill two Bismarck men. One of the men was the victim in a case where Rutherford was convicted of assault and burglary, and the other was an attorney who represented the first man at a civil trial against Rutherford.

Rutherford is being held at the James River Correctional Center, according to court documents.

- JennyMichael