USA v. Bridges

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-23-TAV-DCP
)
JACOB COLE BRIDGES, 	)
)
Defendant. 	)
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 Jacob Cole Bridges’ Unopposed Motion to Continue Plea Deadline and Trial Date
[Doc. 23], filed on December 22, 2025.
Defendant requests the Court to continue the plea deadline, set for December 29, 2025, and
the trial date, set for January 27, 2026 [Id. ¶ 1]. In support of his motion, Defendant states that he
had his initial appearance on April 10, 2025, and an initial discovery disclosure was made shortly
thereafter [Id. ¶ 2]. Defendant represents that subsequent discovery disclosures have been made
since that time and include information about the case agent, who has since left the department
[Id.]. The motion relates that Defendant’s counsel has identified additional witnesses that may
have more information about the agent and his involvement with Defendant, which could prove
critical for ongoing plea negotiations or trial, if necessary, and that additional time is needed for
counsel to meet with these potential witnesses, who all reside in Morgan County, Tennessee [Id.].
Further, Defendant represents that the parties continue to work towards a possible resolution of
the case but states that activities are underway, which could greatly impact Defendant’s potential
sentencing exposure, and that additional time is needed to complete the outstanding activities to
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effectuate a possible resolution [Id.]. Under these circumstances, Defendant’s counsel does not
believe he can adequately prepare or effectively represent Defendant within the currently
scheduled deadlines and trial dates [Id.]. Defendant’s motion reflects that the Government does
not oppose the continuance [Id. ¶ 5]. Defendant understands that the period of time between the
filing of this motion and a rescheduled court date will be fully excludable for speedy trial purposes
[Id.].
Based on the information in Defendant’s motion and because the Government does not
oppose the continuance, the Court finds the ends of justice served by granting a continuance
outweigh the interests of Defendant 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 needs the additional time to conduct further
investigation, meet with potential witnesses, work towards a potential resolution, and if that does
not resolve the case, otherwise prepare for trial. The Court finds that all of this cannot occur before
the January 27, 2026 trial date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant Jacob Cole Bridges’ Unopposed Motion to
Continue Plea Deadline and Trial Date [Doc. 23]. The trial of this case is reset to May 12, 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 December 22, 2025, and the new
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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 Jacob Cole Bridges’ Unopposed Motion to Continue Plea
Deadline and Trial Date [Doc. 23] is GRANTED;
(2) 	the trial of this matter is reset to commence on May 12, 2026, at
9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States
District Judge;
(3) 	all time between the filing of the motion on December 22, 2025,
and the new trial date of May 12, 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 April 10, 2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing motions in limine is April 27, 2026, and
responses to motions in limine are due on or before May 5, 2026;
(6) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on April 23, 2026, at 1:30 p.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
May 1, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
_____________________________
Debra C. Poplin
United States Magistrate Judge
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