Six members of the Latin Kings gang were set to go on trial a week from yesterday for racketeering. However, after reviewing the substantial amount of discovery related to the case, a federal judge in Greensboro postponed the trial.

While prosecutors in the trial filed a motion to delay the trial, criminal defense attorneys agreed that more time was necessary to properly review all of the information that was expected to be handed over by the government. The trial has been put off until the beginning of March at the earliest.

While three months may seem like a long time, defense attorneys said the amount of discovery is so substantial that they may need even more time. According to reports, the government is currently in possession of 57 CDs and 7,000 pages of discovery related to the criminal case. Thirteen defendants have been accused of arson, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.

The judge acknowledged that the case was extremely complicated and complex. She ordered the attorneys to reconvene in March to discuss progress on the case.

Last month, the six gang members set to go on trial were denied bail after each pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The situation surrounding this case shows just how complex criminal cases can be. In this case, there are thousands of pages of information collected by the government that must be reviewed before trial. This is why it is important to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney when facing serious charges. Understanding your rights is necessary in order to protect your freedom.

Source: News & Record, "Judge postpones Latin Kings trial," Robert Lopez, Jan. 10, 2012