The jury trials for two men charged in the aggravated attack on American Press newspaper carrier Woodie Blanks have been continued to October, according to court officials.

Douglas Paul James and Dillon Matthew James were expected to appear in court on Monday for a jury to begin hearing arguments, but both men will now be expected to appear in court on Oct. 17 instead. Pre-trial hearings are set for Oct. 4.

Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright released a statement to the American Press saying his office will continue to seek prosecution in the case.

“The victim in this case was seriously injured and my office will prosecute the cases based on the evidence. I will continue to seek justice for victims of crimes in Vernon Parish,” Lambright said.

Douglas and Dillon James are charged with second-degree battery for the Dec. 17 beating of 67-year-old Blanks while he was hand-delivering a newspaper to the door of a customer.

Blanks said the customer had requested the paper be brought to the front door because they were experiencing medical and mobility problems and that he was happy to oblige, but as he attempted to walk back down the customer’s drive that early morning, Blanks was confronted by a group of men who had removed the keys from his waiting truck.

He said they asked him what he was doing at the property.

“I told them I was delivering the paper, like I had been doing for the past three years. I told them to go ask the man who lived there; that he would tell them who I was. That’s when they blindsided me,” Blanks said.

Blanks was hit with such force he was knocked to the ground, but the assault continued. He said the men continued to hit him until the homeowner called the men off and they returned his keys so that he could leave.

Blanks immediately reported the incident to Rosepine Police, and he was transported to Beauregard Health in DeRidder for what authorities said were “visible serious injuries.”

He was transferred to a Shreveport hospital for emergency surgery on both eyes.

Despite multiple surgeries, doctors have told Blanks he may never fully regain his vision.

This week, Blanks’ fiancé Barbara Armour, provided an update on Blanks’ condition, saying he was still going through a difficult time.
“His vision is not good, that’s all that we can say on that. He is just taking it one day at a time. That’s all he can do,” Armour said.
Despite Blanks’ insistence that more people were involved, only Douglas and Dillon James were charged in the attack.

The two men have claimed the attack was the result of mistaken identity, reportedly saying they thought Blanks was a prowler who had been allegedly seen on the property days before the attack.

In February, both men pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, they face maximum penalties of fines not more than $2,000 each, and imprisonment with or without parole for not more than eight years each.