A Union County judge signed an order Thursday assigning the case against former county highway superintendent Wanda Hartman to Beth Butsch, a judge in adjoining Fayette County.

The Richmond Palladium-Item newspaper reports that Judge Matthew Cox removed himself after defense attorney Ron Cross asked for a new judge and a change of venue.

State police arrested Hartman and a department employee last year after a state audit accused them of ghost employment and using county equipment in the construction of Hartman’s home. Hartman is charged with theft, ghost employment and conversion.

Butsch will rule on the motion for a change of venue and set a new trial date.