The case of Missouri man charged with possession of child pornography as well as grooming and traveling to meet a minor will now be decided by a judge instead of a jury. 42-year old Shelby D. Weston of Monett, Missouri appeared in Fayette County Court defense attorney Monroe McWard last Thursday afternoon prior to a pre-trial hearing that was scheduled for Friday. During Thursday’s appearance, it was noted that McWard and Weston were waiving jury trial and instead were requesting a bench trial. The defense also requested that the bench trial be continued despite objection from Fayette County State’s Attorney Josh Morrison. Judge Marc Kelly granted the motion to continue over the state’s objection with the new bench trial date set for February 6 at 9am. A pretrial in the case will be held on January 11 at 11am. Weston is charged with six counts of child pornography for allegedly possessing three photographs and one video of a child the defendant, according to court information, should have reasonably known to be under the age of 13 with those four counts all being Class 2 felonies that are each punishable by three to seven years in prison. Weston is also charged with two additional counts of child pornography as he is alleged to have possessed two photographs of a child the defendant, according to court information, should have reasonably known to be under the age of 18 which are both Class 3 felonies and punishable by two to five years in prison. Weston also faces the two original charges that led to the discovery of the alleged child pornography as he is charged with one count of traveling to meet a minor, a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison and one count of grooming which is a Class 4 felony punishable by one to three years in prison. Weston does remain in the Fayette County Jail on $250,000 bond.