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UPDATE: Leslie Chance's attorney has "conflict," new counsel to be appointed

Mistrial declared, murder trial will need new start date
Posted at 12:06 PM, Jun 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-06 17:42:51-05

UPDATE: According to court officials, the defense in the case told the court Friday morning of a conflict.

The judge in the trial declared a mistrial and Leslie Chance was referred to Indigent Defense Program for new counsel.


The trial of a former local elementary school principal charged with killing her husband has been delayed, according to court records.

The Kern County Superior Courts website shows the charge disposition in the case against Leslie Chance has been changed to "Mistrial; Other" as of June 28.

Attorneys were in the midst of selecting a jury, which started on Monday. The courts website lists the next hearing planned in the trial is set for July 3. That hearing is listed as "Confirmation of Counsel" and that's when a new trial date is expected to be set as well.

Chance is accused of killing her husband, Todd Chance, back in 2013, and then dumping his body in an agricultural field. He had been shot multiple times.

Leslie Chance, who served as principal of Fairview Elementary, was arrested early on in the murder investigation, but she was quickly released. She was re-arrested in December of 2016.

She has already pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.