FAYETTE COUNTY — The absence Tuesday of the defendant and defense attorney Tuesday for a Fayette County child pornography trial has the court working on a solution.

According to Assistant Fayette County State’s Attorney Brenda Mathis, after 36-year-old defendant Ryan Koontz failed to appear in court Monday for jury selection, the prosecution was prepared to move forward Tuesday and try Koontz in absentia.

However, after defense attorney Shin Cho failed to attend Tuesday’s court setting the next step was less clear.

Mathis said three judges with more than 60 years of combined legal experience were in court Tuesday discussing legal options and none of them had ever had a case where the defense attorney failed to appear for trial.

Cho did finally appear in court Wednesday morning, and a status hearing in the case was then scheduled for May 11, at which time it is expected the outstanding legal questions will be answered and the case will move forward. Cho had reportedly failed to appear in court on earlier hearings in the case.

Mathis praised the Attorney General’s Office for working with them throughout what has been a complex case. Koontz rejected a plea offer last month and opted instead to go to trial.

Koontz was arrested in November 2014 as part of “Operation Glass House,” a statewide initiative launched in 2010 to apprehend the most active offenders who download and trade child pornography online.

He’s been charged with two Class X felony counts of reproducing child pornography showing a victim under the age of 13 and eight counts Class 2 felony possession of child pornography videos.

Mathis says there is an outstanding warrant for Koontz arrest due to his failure to appear in court Monday and Tuesday. He had been free on bond since January 2015.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ryan Koontz is urged to call the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at 618-283-2141 or Crime Stoppers at 618-283-1986.