Suspended Schools Superintendent Randy Acevedo's trial on an official misconduct charge is set for Oct. 19, preceded by a Sept. 3 pretrial appearance.

Attorney Catherine Vogel on Thursday filed a not guilty plea and reserved a jury trial for her client during an arraignment before Circuit Judge Mark Jones. Acevedo was not present.

Though hoping for a September trial date, Vogel said she would accept the October trial date.

"My client is innocent and looks forward to proving it in court," Vogel said. "I hoped it could be sooner, but the judge isn't holding trials in September."

Noting he attends Key West Sunrise Rotary on Friday mornings with Acevedo and Vogel, the judge said he is able to be "impartial and objective."

"I know who Superintendent Acevedo is, not on a personal [level] but on a superficial basis," Jones said.

Circuit Judge David Audlin, who initially was assigned to the case, recused himself from Acevedo's case, as well as that of Acevedo's wife, Monique.

The former adult education coordinator was charged with theft and fraud, accused of stealing more than $180,000 in school money, with more charges expected. The superintendent is accused of trying to cover up her alleged misspending.

Vogel would not answer questions about the superintendent's ability to pay for his defense, in light of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist suspending him without pay on June 11, the day after a grand jury indicted him. He made $147,000 annually. Monique Acevedo's attorney, Nathan Eden, has asked a judge to remove him from her case, citing her inability to pay.

"My financial arrangement with my client is confidential," Vogel said.

Whether Vogel will request a change of venue is something she could determine when she and prosecutors interview prospective jurors.

Vogel said she was not worried about the public linking Acevedo's case with his wife's.

Randy Acevedo is accused of giving a falsified letter to the schools finance director, who had questioned him about an XM Satellite Radio subscription charged to Monique Acevedo's school district credit card and in the name of their son, Wade. The letter purportedly was from the Monroe Association of ReMARCable Citizens director and board president, who denied writing it. An employee of the nonprofit, which serves developmentally challenged adults and children, said he previously had given Monique Acevedo a blank sheet of MARC letterhead at her request.

Vogel must prove Randy Acevedo did not know the letter was faked.

If convicted on the third-degree felony, he faces a maximum five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. His wife faces 60 years.

jguerra@keysnews.com