Athens Mayor Ric Abel’s executive assistant has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Jan. 25 resulting from a Dec. 23 arrest on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failing to control her vehicle.

The State Highway Patrol reported that Abel’s assistant, Melissa Knight, crashed her car at 5 a.m. Dec. 23 on County Route 6, less than one mile west of State Route 56.

Knight is pleading not guilty to the charges, according to court documents.