USA v. Washington

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-135-KAC-JEM
)
GENE EDWARD WASHINGTON, III, 	)
)
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 Gene Washington’s Unopposed Motion to Continue Deadlines and Trial Date
[Doc. 13], which he filed on January 6, 2026.
Defendant Washington asks the Court to continue the motion and plea deadlines, as well
as the trial in his case [Id. at 1]. In support of his motion, Defendant asserts the Court appointed
counsel on December 5, 2025 [id. ¶ 1], but the remote location of his detention facility kept his
counsel from being able to meet with him until January 6, 2026 [id. at 1]. Defendant states the
pretrial motion deadline passed on January 5, 2026, before counsel could confer with him [Id.].
Defendant also states counsel has not completed his investigation into the facts and circumstances
of his case to fully advise Defendant of the best possible resolution for his case [Id. ¶ 2].
Additionally, Defendant states there is good communication between defense counsel and the
Government, and a continuance provides an opportunity to make a full resolution of the case
against Defendant [Id. ¶¶ 3–4]. Defendant’s motion reflects the Government does not oppose the
requested continuance [Id. ¶ 6]. Defendant understands that the period of time between the filing
of his motion and a rescheduled trial date will be excludable for speedy trial purposes [Id. ¶ 5].
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Based upon 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). Specifically, 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). Specifically, defense counsel needs time to review the case with Defendant, continue
discussions with the Government, and, if necessary, prepare the case for trial. The Court finds that
this cannot occur before the February 26, 2026 trial date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant’s Unopposed Motion Continue Deadlines and
Trial Date [Doc. 13]. The trial date is reset to May 12, 2026. A new, comprehensive trial schedule
is included below. Because the Court has found that the ends of justice served by granting a
continuance outweigh the interests of Defendants and the public in a speedy trial, all of the time
between the filing of the motion on January 6, 2026, 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, it is ORDERED as follows:
(1) 	Defendant’s Unopposed Motion to Continue Deadlines and Trial
Date [Doc. 13] is GRANTED;
(2) 	the 	trial 	date 	is 	reset 	to 	commence 	on 	May 	12, 	2026,
at 	9:00 	a.m., 	before 	the 	Honorable 	Katherine 	A. 	Crytzer,
United States District Judge;
(3) 	all time between the filing of the motion on January 6, 2026, and
the new trial date of May 12, 2026, is fully excludable time under
the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
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(4) 	for good cause shown, the deadline for filing pretrial motions is
reopened and reset for February 9, 2026, and responses are due on
or before February 23, 2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is April 10, 2026;
(6) 	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;
(7) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on April 28, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.; and
(8) 	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:
____________________________
Jill E. McCook
United States Magistrate Judge
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