Legal arguments as to whether state Attorney General Mark Bennett's office may continue to pursue criminal charges against Kaua'i landowner James Pflueger will stretch into May, a court hearing yesterday determined.

Kaua'i Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano set aside May 12 and 13 to continue hearing arguments from Pflueger's defense attorneys as to why Bennett's office should be disqualified from pursuing criminal charges against Pflueger.

Pflueger, 83, is scheduled to be tried June 15 on seven manslaughter charges and one reckless endangering charge in connection with the March 14, 2006, deaths of seven people in floodwaters released by the breach of Kaloko Dam on Kaua'i's north shore. Pflueger, a retired O'ahu car dealer, owns the land where the dam and reservoir sit and is the only person facing criminal charges for the incident.