Updated: July 14, 2017

THE FORMER MAURY COUNTY TEACHER ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING A STUDENT HAS BEEN GRANTED A NEW TRIAL DATE IN FEDERAL COURT. ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS, THE TRIAL DATE FOR 50 YEAR-OLD TAD CUMMINS HAS BEEN RESET FOR JANUARY 2ND AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN NASHVILLE. CUMMINS, WHO DISAPPEARED FOR MORE THAN MONTH WITH 15 YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH THOMAS, WAS SCHEDULED TO GO TO TRIAL JULY 25TH ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL TRANSPORTATION OF A MINOR ACROSS STATE LINES WITH INTENT TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY. THE FORMER TEACHER AT CULLEOKA UNIT SCHOOL RAN AWAY WITH THE GIRL IN MARCH WHEN INFORMATION SURFACED THAT CUMMINS HAD BEEN HAVING AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEEN STUDENT. LAST WEEK, CUMMINS' PUBLIC DEFENDER FILED THE MOTION TO DELAY THE TRAIL CITING A NEED TO COMPLETE DISCOVERY, RESEARCH, AND INVESTIGATION BEFORE THE TRIAL.