UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. WOOTEN

IN THE U NITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION
U NITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v . 	CASE NO :
7:25-cr-16-WLS-ALS-1
JONATHAN LAMAR WOOTEN ,
Defendant .
ORDER
P reviously, the Court provided the Parties with notice that this case was scheduled for
pretrial conference on Wednesday , November 19, 2025, at 2:00 p .m. , and for trial during the
Court's Valdosta Specially Set Trial Term beginning D ecember 8, 2025 (D oc. 18). In the event
the case is not ready for trial, the P arties were ordered to file a motion to continue at least two
days prior to the date of the noticed pretrial conference. (Id.) D efendant, Jonathan L amar
Wooten , filed a timely U nopposed Motion to Continue Trial in the I nterest of Justice (Doc.
19) ("Motion") . D efense Counsel requests a continuance to the next available trial term to
allow him time to property investigate the case so as to prov ide D efendant with effective
assistance of counsel, including considering pretrial litigation and / or plea negotiations, and to
consult directly with D efendant regarding his case. D efense Counsel represents that he
conferred with Government's counsel, who does not oppose tl1e Motion.
D efense Counsel states that the continuance is necessary for effective preparation of
tlus case, taking into account the exercise of due diligence. H e furtl1er states tl1at tl1e ends of
justice served by granting the continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the
United States Attorney's Office 1 in a speedy trial, and that the period of delay be excluded
under the Speedy Trial Act 18 U.S. C. § 3161.
1 To satisfy 18 U.S.C. § 316l(h)(7)(A) - (B), the Court assumes D efense Counsel intended to state that the ends
of justice served by granting the continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the Defendant in a
speedy trial, and the Court so finds based on the statements in the Motion.
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The Court notes that D efendant requests a continuance to the Court's next regularly
scheduled trial term which for Valdosta cases is February 2026, beginning February 2, 2026.
The pretrial conference for the February 2026 Trial Term will be held in approximately si,-.._
weeks on D ecember 30, 2025. Based on Defense Counsel's statements regarding the status of
th.is case, the Court finds that a continuance to the Court's May 2026 Valdosta Trial Term will
best serve the ends of justice and will provide D efense Counsel the reasonable time necessary
for effective preparation of this case.
Accordingly, based on the D efendant's stated reasons and the Court's review of the
entire record , the Cour t finds that a continuance is required for D efense Counsel to effectively
prepare for trial. The Court further finds the ends of justice served by granting such
continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the Defendant in a speedy trial. 18
U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A)-(B). T herefore , the Motion (Doc . 19) is GRANTED , as fo llows:
1. 	TI1e trial in the above - referenced matter is CONTINUED to the Cour t's
Valdosta D ivision M ay 2026 T rial Term and its conclusion, or as may otherwise be ordered
by the Court.
2. 	In the event either D efense Counsel or Governmen t's Counsel believe the case
will be ready for trial during the February 2026 Valdosta Trial Term , then on or before
Wednesday, Nov ember 26, 2025 , such P arty shall file the appropriate motion to set this case
for such term of Cour t. Counsel should confer in advance of filing such motion.
3. 	Furthermore , it is ORDERED that the time lost under the Speedy T rial Act,
18 U .S.C. § 3161, is EXCLU DED pursuant to 18 U .S.C. § 3161(h)(7) because the Cour t has
continued the trial in this case and finds that the failure to grant a continuance would (a) likely
result in a miscarriage of justice, (b) deny D efendant the continuity of counsel, and (C) deny
Defense Counsel the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account
the exercise of due diligence. S ee 18 U.S.C. § 316101)(7) (B)(i), (iv) .
4. 	TI1e November 19, 2025 pretrial conference is CANCELLED .
SO ORDERED , this 18th day of November 2025.
/s /W. Loμjs Sands
W . LO U IS SANDS, SR. JU DGE
U NITED STATES DISTRICT CO U RT
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