For that to happen, they had to wait for her charges to be sorted out in another state in another court more than 250 miles away. Unsure how long that would take, prosecutors said their options were either to drop charges or watch as Lamb went free on bond. Delaying a preliminary hearing until the witness could testify might have impeded Lamb’s right to a speedy trial.

The judge set the bond and court documents show he was released in November 2013.

Once the victim had been moved to a prison and could be brought in to testify, prosecutors had to find a way to get her to Virginia. City prosecutor Elizabeth Killeen said the complications that arose from having to subpoena a witness who was both out of state and incarcerated were “rare.”

While witnesses from other states or incarcerated witnesses in Virginia are often brought in, the combination created complications. She would have to be brought into the court of record — circuit court — but the case was still in Charlottesville General District Court. Additionally, the general district court didn’t have the funds to transfer an inmate across state lines.