The trial for Tonya Craft, the former Chickamauga kindergarten teacher scheduled to go on trial Monday for 22 counts of sexual crimes against children, has been postponed until April 12.

The delay order was revealed this afternoon.

A spokesman at the district attorney’s office in Catoosa County this afternoon said that lead prosecutor Chris Arnt was not available for comment, that he would not be back in the office until Monday, and that no one at the office, including Arnt, could comment due to a gag order.

Judge Brian House did not say in court documents why the trial has been delayed. The trial will be held in Catoosa County Superior Court.

Craft’s lead attorney, Chattanooga lawyer Clancy J. Covert, could not be reached this afternoon for comment.

Ringgold attorney Ken Poston, a criminal lawyer who is familiar with the case but not one of Craft’s attorneys, was asked why there might be a delay. "It could be any number of reasons — one or both sides or the judge’s own volition," Poston said.

"Things get continued all the time. It is very common," he said.

"I don't have any specifics on why," he added.

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On Monday, during a motions hearing in Catoosa County Superior Court, the defense submitted a motion to continue — that is, delay — the trial. More than 30 motions have been filed in the case.

Tonya Craft, 37, is facing 12 counts of child molestation, six counts of aggravated sexual battery and six counts of aggravated child molestation. She is accused of molesting three children.

According to the indictment on Craft, the crimes occurred during three periods: Jan. 17, 2002, to June 30, 2006 (four counts); Aug. 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006 (seven counts); and July 1, 2006, to May 27, 2008 (11 counts).

Investigators say the crimes occurred at her residence in Chickamauga. The residence is located in a portion of Chickamauga that lies in Catoosa County, which is why the case is being tried in Catoosa Superior Court.

Craft was fired from Chickamauga Elementary School, where she was a kindergarten teacher for three years.