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The trial of a retired Woodside attorney accused of molesting three young boys may be headed toward a mistrial after his suicide attempt put him on a 14-day involuntary psychiatric hold at Stanford Hospital.
Alan Frank Russell is accused of molesting the children of family friends between 1996 and 2008 while on trips together. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s office charged Russell with 12 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, all felonies, and one count of felony possession of child pornography. Russell pleaded not guilty to all charges and is facing life in prison.
Superior Court Judge Renee Reyna found Russell “voluntarily absented” himself from the trial by attempting suicide with a pellet gun shortly before the first day of opening statements on Jan. 20.
Since Russell can’t attend the trial while on the psychiatric hold, his defense attorney is arguing that the court cannot continue in his absence and must declare a mistrial. Previously, following the suicide attempt, defense attorney Peter Goldscheider asked the court to consider Russell’s competency to stand trial, but Judge Reyna denied the request.
The trial comes almost three years after Russell was originally charged with molesting one victim in May 2023. Following his arrest, two other victims came forward and a grand jury indicted Russell on additional charges.
The trial was suspended until Thursday, Jan 29, for discussion of Russell’s medical records. The jury will return on Feb. 9, at which time the court will decide whether to declare a mistrial.
So far, just one day of prosecution evidence has been presented. The trial was originally expected to last two weeks.
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