FAYETTE COUNTY — The preliminary hearing was continued Wednesday for a 34-year-old Farina man charged with kidnapping his young son.

Darrel K. Moulton appeared in Fayette County Court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, however, his public defender Walter Lookofsky filed a motion to have the hearing delayed for 30-days to allow witnesses to be subpoenaed, including one from out of state who would prefer to call.

Despite an objection from the prosecution, Judge Don Sheafor granted the motion and rescheduled a rendition hearing and possible preliminary hearing for September 15. Moulton remains in the Fayette County Jail with bail set at $500,000.

The delay in the case has been charged to the defense, and will not count against the state in the defendant’s right to a prompt preliminary hearing.

Moulton is accused of knowingly and secretly taking his 9-year-old son Gahret K. Moulton from a Vandalia location on July 30th and holding the boy against his will.

The pair was the focus of an Amber Alert and hours later were discovered in a rural area of Fayette County just south of Vandalia.