USA v. Pitts et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Plaintiff, )
v. ) No. 3:25-CR-87-TAV-DCP
)
RASHAUN PITTS, JODY STEELMAN, )
and JENNIFER WILLIAMS, )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
All pretrial motions in this case have been referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b) for disposition or recommendation as appropriate. This case is before the Court on
Defendant Rashaun Pitts’ Motion to Continue Plea Deadline and Trial Date [Doc. 35], filed on
October 17, 2025.
Defendant requests the Court to continue the plea deadline, set for October 17, 2025, and
the trial date, set for November 18, 2025 [Id.]. In support of his motion, Defendant states that his
counsel has not been able to complete the investigation into the facts and circumstances of this
matter and cannot yet fully advise him of the best possible resolution for his case [Id. ¶ 1].
Defendant understands that the period of time between the filing of this motion for continuance
and a rescheduled trial date shall be fully excludable for speedy trial purposes [Id. ¶ 3]. The
Government does not oppose the request for a continuance [Id. ¶ 4].
Codefendant Jody Steelman filed a response to the motion to continue and stated that he
understood his speedy trial rights and agrees to the continuance [Doc. 37 p. 1]. Codefendant
Jennifer Williams filed a notice stating that she did not oppose the continuance in this case, and
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understood her rights under the Speedy Trial Act and the implications a continuance would have
on those rights [Doc. 38 p. 2].
Based on the information in Defendant Pitts’ motion and because the Government and
Codefendants Steelman and Williams do not oppose the continuance, the Court finds the ends of
justice served by granting a continuance outweigh the interests of Defendants and the public in a
speedy trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). In making this determination, the Court has
considered the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B). In consideration of these factors, the
Court concludes that failing to grant a continuance would both result in a miscarriage of justice
and deny counsel for Defendant the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking
into account the exercise of due diligence. See id. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(i), (iv). Defendant’s counsel
needs the additional time to investigate, consult with Defendant, and otherwise prepare for trial.
The Court finds that all of this cannot occur before the November 18, 2025 trial date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant Rashaun Pitts’ Motion to Continue Plea
Deadline and Trial Date [Doc. 35]. The trial of this case is reset to January 13, 2026. A new,
comprehensive trial schedule is included below. Because the Court finds that the ends of justice
are served by granting a continuance outweigh the interests of Defendant and the public in a speedy
trial, all of the time between the filing of the motion on October 17, 2025, and the new trial date is
fully excludable time under the Speedy Trial Act. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(D), (h)(7)(A)–(B).
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows:
(1) Defendant Rashaun Pitts’ Motion to Continue Plea Deadline and
Trial Date [Doc. 35] is GRANTED;
(2) the trial of this matter is reset to commence on January 13, 2026,
at 9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States
District Judge;
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(3) all time between the filing of the motion on October 17, 2025, and
the new trial date of January 13, 2026, is fully excludable time
under the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
(4) the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is December 12, 2025;
(5) the deadline for filing motions in limine is December 29, 2025.
Responses to motions in limine are due on or before January 6,
2026;
(6) the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on December 30, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.; and
(7) requests for special jury instructions with appropriate citations to
authority pursuant to Local Rule 7.4 shall be filed on or before
January 5, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
_____________________________
Debra C. Poplin
United States Magistrate Judge
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