UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHAPMAN

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATHENS DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
JOHN THOMAS CHAPMAN,
Defendant.
CRIMINAL ACTION NO.
3:26-cr-00015-TES-CHW
ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION TO CONTINUE
Before the Court is Defendant John Thomas Chapman’s unopposed motion to
continue trial in the interest of justice. [Doc. 19]. On September 15, 2026, the Grand Jury
returned a one count indictment charging Defendant with possession of a firearm by a
convicted felon. See [Doc. 1, p. 1]; see also 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(8), 924(d)(1); 28
U.S.C. § 2461(c). Defendant was arrested and pled not guilty. [Doc. 7]; [Doc. 11]; [Doc.
12]. He then filed his unopposed motion to continue on October 15, 2026. [Doc. 19].
Defendant requests a continuance to allow for more time for his counsel to
review the discovery he received on October 14, 2026, identify Defendant’s investigative
needs, conduct investigation, and determine if negotiations might bear fruit. [Doc. 19, p.
2]. The government does not oppose this motion. [Id.]. Thus, the Court finds that
granting Defendant’s request serves the ends of justice. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).
The Court further finds that the ends of justice served by granting the requested
continuance outweigh the interests of Defendant and the public in a speedy trial. See id.
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Failure to grant this continuance would deny defense counsel “the reasonable time
necessary for effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence.”
Id. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv).
Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s unopposed motion to continue
trial in the interest of justice. [Doc. 19]. The Court CONTINUES the Pretrial Conference
until December 2, 2026, and the trial of this matter until January 19, 2027. The delay
occasioned by this continuance shall be deemed excludable pursuant to the provisions
of the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3161(h)(7)(A) and 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv).
SO ORDERED, this 16th day of October, 2026.
S/ Tilman E. Self, III___________________
TILMAN E. SELF, III, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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