USA v. Santiago

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-121-TAV-DCP
)
ERIK SANTIAGO, 	)
)
Defendant. 	)
PRETRIAL ORDER
This case is before the Court on March 16, 2026, pursuant to the Court receiving
notification that Defendant Erik Santiago is scheduled for a change of plea hearing. 	The Court
discerns no need to hold a pretrial conference in this matter.
I.
No pretrial motions are pending, and the parties have filed a plea agreement [Docs. 16 &
17].
II.
In the event the parties proceed to trial, the trial procedures to be followed in this case are
as follows:
(a) Jury Selection. The Court will conduct a preliminary voir dire examination of
the jury, and then counsel will be permitted to conduct voir dire examination. The Court reserves
the right to interrupt counsel and conduct voir dire on its own if counsel ask improper questions or
if the proceedings are unnecessarily prolonged.
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(b) Peremptory Challenges. 	Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 24(b)(2), the defendant is
entitled to ten peremptory challenges and the government is entitled to six.
(c) Novel Legal Issues for the Court. 	No novel or unusual legal issues were
identified as of this time.
(d) Novel Evidentiary Issues for the Court. 	No novel or unusual evidentiary
problems were identified as of this time.
(e) Special Requests for Jury Instructions. If counsel have any special requests
for instructions to the jury, the same shall be filed at least five (5) working days before trial.
(f) Additional Motions. No more motions, except for motions in limine, will be
allowed to be filed in this cause of action by either side without prior leave of Court. Motions in
limine must be filed fifteen days before trial.
(g) Admissions and Stipulations. 	Counsel should meet in advance of trial and
carefully review the trial exhibits with a view toward stipulating the admissibility of as many
exhibits as possible. Any admissions and stipulations of fact to be used at trial shall be signed by
defendant’s attorney and the defendant and filed at least five (5) working days before trial.
(h) Courtroom Decorum. Counsel are encouraged to familiarize themselves with
Local Rule 83.3 and ensure that their clients are familiar with the contents of this rule.
(i) Jury List. The Clerk may provide counsel with a jury list containing names and
personal information concerning prospective petit jurors (hereafter “the jury list”). Counsel and
any other person provided with the jury list may not share the jury list or information therein except
as necessary for purposes of jury selection. Following jury selection, counsel and any other person
provided the jury list must return to the clerk the jury list and any copies made from the jury list
or destroy them.
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(j) Contact with Jurors. Unless permitted by the Court, no attorney, representative
of an attorney, party or representative of a party, may interview, communicate with, or otherwise
contact any juror or prospective juror before, during, or after the trial. 	Permission of the Court
must be sought by an application made orally in open court or upon written motion stating the
grounds and the purpose of the contact. If permission is granted, the scope of the contact and any
limitations upon the contact will be prescribed by the Court prior to the contact.
III.
A change of plea hearing has been scheduled before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan at
10:30 a.m. on March 18, 2026.
If counsel have any objections to this Pretrial Order, such objection should be taken up
pursuant to Local Rule 72.4(b), EDTN.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
_________________________
Debra C. Poplin
United States Magistrate Judge
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