“In light of the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Court’s recent standing order (SO-20-19), which places restrictions on visitors to the Court, including jurors, the Court finds it necessary to continue the trial of this matter,” U.S. District Judge Thomas Varlan said.

The trial was set to start at the federal courthouse in Knoxville on Monday. It has been rescheduled to Jan. 26.

“The period of time between the previous trial date and the new trial date shall be fully excludable under the Speedy Trial Act,” Varlan said.

Booher, 65, is charged in federal court with enticement, felony sexual offense against a minor while on a sex offender registry, sex trafficking of a child and attempted production of child pornography. He’s being held at the Blount County Jail while the case is pending.

Booher landed on the Tennessee Sexual Offender Registry after he pleaded guilty in Loudon County Criminal Court on two counts of statutory rape in 2014. He had a law practice in Roane County, but the Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred him because of the conviction.