HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Judge Trish Rose issued her opinion Friday in the case against James Rodney Quinton. The judge took speedy trial arguments under advisement for Quinton, 44, who is awaiting trial for a number of serious charges — including rape.

Quinton managed to get his conviction and 72-year sentence overturned for two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and rape. He is now arguing his speedy trial rights have been violated.

He argues continuances and status hearings violated his rights to a speedy trial. The state noted during a hearing earlier this week that most of those continuances were requested by the defense, in part, because of plea negotiations.

Judge Rose found that Quinton’s right to a speedy trial was not violated.

Quinton had filed a habeas corpus motion in the case — it was denied at the district court level, but reversed by the Kansas Court of Appeals.

He was originally convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman at a local residence on Sept. 18, 2003.

The trial will proceed on May 21.