February trial date set for Aceto

Joseph Aceto, convicted two years ago of aggravated kidnapping and two counts of attempted homicide, will stand trial again in February.

The Montana Supreme Court overturned Aceto's conviction and 210-year sentence.

Aceto, 50, had District Judge Ted Lympus disqualified from the case. Lympus was the presiding judge at the first trial. Judge Kitty Curtis will preside over the next trial, scheduled for her February jury term.

A jury convicted Aceto of shooting at his former girlfriend and her boyfriend, and then taking her hostage in the North Fork area, north of Columbia Falls. He released her unharmed.

After the trial, the woman, Eileen Holmquist, killed herself.

Aceto recently was moved from Montana State Prison to the Flathead County jail, where he awaits trial in lieu of $1 million bond.

County Attorney Ed Corrigan will prosecute. Public defender Glen Neier was assigned to defend Aceto, who represented himself at the first trial.