LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  A judge declared a mistrial in the case of a former Jefferson County Public Schools teacher accused of sexually abusing children.

Christopher Morris's trial started Monday, but witness testimony on Wednesday lead to the mistrial.

The witness referred to a possible third victim of Morris, but the trial focused on just two victims. Mentioning a third victim was not part of the evidence and was prejudicial to the jury, according to Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Eric Haner's ruling. 

Haner set a new trial date of Jan. 5, 2026.

Morris' trial came after he was supposed to be sentenced in December to 20 years in prison for 37 counts of child sex abuse after pleading guilty under a plea deal in October.  

But Morris, 52, previously told Haner his attorney, Aubrey Williams, didn't provide him with details about the agreement.

Williams disagreed and said Morris had "defamed" him.

But under state law, Haner said the court must hold a hearing where Morris is appointed another attorney to go through the allegations before a decision is made.

Haner ultimately agreed with Morris, ruling Williams admitted he didn't discuss everything with his client before the plea agreement or provide him all of the evidence and information he needed to decide whether to plead guilty or go to trial, effectively allowing Morris to withdrawal his plea deal. 

Morris was arrested in June 2022 and charged with 38 counts of child sex abuse including sexual abuse of a minor and sodomy, after police said he sexually abused two teens. At the time, Morris was employed with JCPS and was a coach for a traveling Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team.

Police said the crimes happened between August 2012 and May 2022 with one victim who was under 16 years old and another victim under 18 years old.

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