Prosecuting Attorney Rea Culwell said in an interview that she made a strong effort to settle the murder case against Joseph Shuba in part because trials, especially murder trials, are so expen- sive for the county.

According to Columbia County Clerk Lynn Lese- man, court costs and legal defense costs for the Shuba case have already added up to more than $14,000. That doesn't include jail costs incurred by the Sheriff's Of- fice. Shuba has been in cus- tody for nearly nine months.

Columbia County Com- missioner Dwight Robanske said that each year the board of commissioners sets aside approximately $125,000 in their budget to cover the cost of a major trial. This year, the bulk of those funds will be available for a future con- tingency, thanks to Shuba's change of plea.