Man Charged with Rape Wants Trial Outside Billings

Attorneys for a Billings man charged in a series of rapes have filed a motion to move the man's trial out of Yellowstone County, saying "inflammatory" news coverage of the case will make it difficult to seat an unbiased jury.

The Billings Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/18U2l1N ) public defender David Duke filed the motion Monday seeking a change of venue for the trial of 41-year-old Toby Griego.

Duke's motion included news clips about the case and copies of comments made on the Gazette website in which people suggested it would be appropriate for Griego to be killed, tortured or sexually assaulted.

Griego faces 40 charges in connection to a string of robberies, rapes and attempted sexual assaults involving six women. Duke suggested the charges be split up into six groups.

Griego remains jailed on $1 million bail.