PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — The prosecutor in the Amber Spradlin murder case is pushing for limits to one defendant’s visits to the restaurant he co-owns.

Earlier this month, Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner filed a motion asking for guidance on whether it is appropriate for Michael McKinney to be visiting the Brickhouse Restaurant, which he co-owns, while out on work release.

McKinney is charged with eight counts of evidence tampering for allegedly attempting to conceal the identity of Spradlin’s killer. His son, M.K. McKinney, is charged with her murder.

McKinney’s attorney agreed that clarification is needed, but asked that the conditions of release be updated to allow him to go to the restaurant not only to attend to business matters, but also to eat or pick up meals.

In a reply filed Tuesday, Turner indicated he is not willing to go quite that far.

“If the court determines that the defendant is permitted to go to the restaurant, it should be limited to instances where it relates to a legitimate business interest, as opposed to going there to eat or socialize,” Turner wrote.

To allow otherwise would send a bad message.

“While this issue may seem trivial, the Brickhouse restaurant has significance to the case in that the victim … worked there for the defendant on the night she was killed,” Turner wrote. “This makes it particularly painful to the victim’s family to see the defendant eating and socializing there.”

Both attorneys have said they do not see a need to hold a hearing on the matter, but would simply like for the judge to issue an order setting the guidelines. That order could come any day.