Damon Lawrence roanecounty.com

The federal trial for a former attorney and convicted sex offender has been moved again due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Kent Booher is facing charges of enticement, felony sexual offense against a minor while on a sex offender registry, sex trafficking of a child and attempted production of child pornography.

His April 7 trial date was reset to June 9 because of the pandemic. His attorney, Benjamin G. Sharp, would later request for the June 9 date to be moved.

“Due to COVID-19, counsel has not been able to complete the investigation into the facts and circumstances of this matter and cannot yet fully advise the defendant of the best possible resolution for his case,” Sharp said in a motion to continue.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Varlan granted the motion.

“The Court thus finds that a failure to continue this case would likely result in a miscarriage of justice,” Varlan said in the order granting the motion. “Accordingly, the Court finds that the ends of justice served by granting such a continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and defendant in a speedy trial.”

Booher, 65, is being held at the Blount County Jail in Maryville while the case is pending. His new trial date is Sept. 15.

Booher became a registered sex offender following his 2014 conviction in Loudon County Criminal Court on two counts of statutory rape. He had a law practice in Roane County, but the Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred him following the conviction.