The preliminary hearing for a Spring City man accused of kidnapping his four children has been rescheduled for January. John Coltharp’s attorney, Paul Frischknecht, asked the Court to postpone the hearing until January 3. He stated after visiting with his client at the Sanpete County Jail, he was requesting the change because it was an unusually complicated case, and he had been unable to receive much discovery at this point. He also stated there may be other charges pending, and he wanted to hold one preliminary hearing on all charges.

Coltharp is accused of refusing to return his four children to their mother, who was the custodial parent following their divorce. The children were discovered in Lund, Utah last week. His two sons were found with his parents; but his two daughters had been concealed by his associate, Samuel Shaffer, and were found cold and hungry following an Amber Alert. Shaffer is facing charges in Iron County relating to the incident.