Federal trials postponed another three months

The coronavirus pandemic is creating a backlog in the federal criminal justice system.

Under an order issued Tuesday by Chief Judge Danny Reeves, all trials currently pending in the Eastern District of Kentucky have been postponed until at least after May 16.

That delays more than 20 criminal trials currently pending in the Pikeville federal courthouse. They include some defendants who are currently being held in jail, such as Kena Reed, who is charged with child sex trafficking, and Robert Preston, who is accused of producing child pornography. They also include some defendants who remain free, such as Eugene Sisco III, who is charged with wire fraud and health care fraud.

The order continues a delay in court operations that has been in effect since Nov. 18.