Both sides are looking to postpone Kent Booher's upcoming federal trial. The disbarred attorney 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 trial is scheduled for Sept. 15. However, his defense counsel and the U.S. Attorney's Office agree that a delay is necessary in the case.

“Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, counsel for both parties has not been able to complete the investigation and preparation necessary to present this case to a jury,” the two sides said in a joint motion to continue the trial.

“The remaining time frame and current conditions of the spread of the virus make it improbable that adequate preparation could be completed by the trial date.”

Booher's Nov. 25, 2019, April 7 and June 9 trial dates were also postponed. The judge has yet to make a decision on the most recent motion for a continuance.

“This matter has a higher probability than most cases of proceeding to a jury trial,” the motion said. “Granting a continuance in this case will provide the parties an opportunity to make a full resolution of the case against the defendant.”

Booher was put on the state sex 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 following the conviction.

Booher, 65, is being held at the Blount County Jail in Maryville while the federal case is pending. The jail recently had 493 inmates tested for COVID-19 and 141 were positive.

“We are dealing with an extremely unfortunate set of circumstances and we are grappling with the reality of our situation,” Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said in a press release. “Releasing our inmate population into the general public just isn't an option.”

People Booher's age are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control. However, his attorney hadn't filed any motions seeking his release from the jail.