Dave Hawk's pre-trial hearing was delayed again Wednesday.

In June, Hawk -- who is the prime suspect in the disapperance of his ex-wife, Debbie Hawk -- was arrested and charged with felony tax evasion, embezzlement, grand theft, and perjury. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of chlid pornography.

He has not been charged with his ex-wife's murder.

Two and a half weeks after his initial arrest, Hawk obtained a new attorney, delaying the hearing which would have taken place. This time, proceedings were delayed because Hawk's new attorney was reportedly unable to appear in court.

Flanked by his former attorney Randy Edwards, Hawk, who is free on bond, arrived at the courthouse wearing a perfectly pressed light gray suit.

His lips were slightly upturned in a half-smile as he filed past several news crews waiting for him on his way into a nearby conference room.

Just before whisking his client away into the conference room, Edwards tersely told reporters, "We have no comment," and quickly shut the door behind himself.

The charges against Hawk came about as a result of the investigation into the disappearance of his ex-wife, Debbie Hawk, and her presumed homicide.

Shortly before Debbie Hawk's disappearance last year, the couple was embroiled in a custody and child support dispute. In October, police named Dave Hawk as the prime suspect in the case.

During the course of their investigation, police seized Hawk's computer, where they said they uncovered financial documents and pornographic photos depicting children.

Dave Hawk allegedly misappropriated more than $50,000 from each of his three children's trust funds, used false documents to obtain a loan, and lied about his income on court documents related to the child custody and support dispute.

It is unknown who Hawk's new attorney is, or the reason he or she could not be present in court Wednesday. Neither Hawk nor Edwards have offered an explanation as to why Hawk is changing attorneys.

However, it is known that Edwards is an attorney with the law firm of Griswold, LaSalle, Cobb, Dowd and Gin, where Hanford City Attorney Bob Dowd is a partner.

As the city attorney, Dowd also represents Hanford's police department -- the same agency which is investigating Hawk both in this case and in the Debbie Hawk case.

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3062.

(July 19, 2007)