Antonio Tillmon’s Operation Rockfish trial in federal court has been moved to the April 24 term, court records show.
Senior United States District Judge Malcolm Howard approved the continuation in the federal police corruption case after his new attorney requested more time.
“For good cause shown, the trial of this matter previously set for February 6, 2017, is hereby continued to commence with jury selection at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017, at the United States Courthouse in Greenville, North Carolina,” Howard wrote in his order. “Counsel shall appear in chambers at 9:30 a.m. on April 24, 2017, with their proposed witness lists, which shall specifically identify the names and cities of residence of each witness.”
Additionally, Howard changed deadlines for motions in the case to be submitted no later than March 27 and any supplemental filings to be submitted by April 7.
Howard noted in the document the estimated trial time is seven to nine days.
“Any delay that results from this continuance of defendant’s trial is excluded from Speedy Trial Act computation for the reason that the ends of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.”
Tillmon is the only one of the 15 defendants in the case to plead not guilty. The others have entered into plea agreements with the government and are tentatively scheduled for sentencing in March.