The former teacher accused of attempting to entice a minor will have his case heard in a neighboring county.

34-year-old Geoffrey Butler’s request to have his trial moved to another county was granted Monday, July 14 in a Saline County courtroom, suggesting that the case has become a “fairly [sic] high profile matter within the community”. The venue will change to Lafayette County, keeping the case in the 15th Judicial Circuit.

Butler was arrested in early January, accused of attempting to solicit who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl from Iowa. According to court documents, Butler sent suggestive texts from his classroom in October and November 2024 with an undercover officer posing as the 14-year-old, and added that he was willing to meet the girl as he was traveling through Iowa. Butler denied the accusation when he was questioned by investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A separate motion to reduce Butler’s bond was denied. His next hearing is set for the afternoon of July 21 at Lafayette Hall in Lexington.