FRANKFORT - The trial of Sen. Johnny Ray Turner and his campaign treasurer on charges they tried to buy the 2000 election will be July 25 in Frankfort, U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell said Tuesday.

The trial of Ross Harris, the Pikeville businessman who allegedly financed the scheme, will be held separately and no date was set. Harris is terminally ill with cancer.

Turner, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate as caucus chairman, pleaded innocent during a brief appearance Tuesday. Glenn Turner, his cousin and campaign treasurer, did not appear but had his attorney plead innocent as well.

Turner's lawyers are pondering a motion to have the trial moved to Pikeville, though Caldwell initially ordered that it will be held in Frankfort.

The indictment earlier this month alleges the Turners and Harris conspired to hide campaign contributions and bought votes in the form of payments to people to drive voters to the polls or work in the campaign. A related mail fraud charge alleges the campaign filed inaccurate finance reports with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance to hide the activity.

If convicted of the two charges, the defendants could be subject to a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Turner was released without bail before the trial.

His lawyers have said Turner is innocent of any wrongdoing and will not resign his office.