Former state Rep. Viers in court, judge grants lawyer more time to prepare case

 Former state representative Thad Viers likely won't return to court until next year, his attorney said Wednesday after a federal judge granted the lawyer more time to work on Viers' criminal case.

Trey Cockrell, the Chesterfield lawyer representing Viers, said he doesn't expect his client to return to court until January or February.

Viers faces 14 charges, including money laundering, racketeering-related financial transactions and lying to an Internal Revenue Service investigator.

Judge Mary Lewis on Wednesday postponed Viers' pretrial conference until the next term of court, meaning he will either enter a guilty plea or agree to proceed to trial at that time.