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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. JULIO OMAR SOTO ROBLES and GREGORY VEGA, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 3:20-cr-0033 ) ) ) ) ) ) ORDER BEFORE THE COURT is the trial in this matter, currently scheduled for March 15, 2021. For the reasons stated herein, the time to try this case is extended up to and including September 13, 2021. On March 17, 2020, the Chief Judge of the District Court of the Virgin Islands entered a general order responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chief Judge found it necessary to “take reasonable and prudent actions” “in order to further public health and safety, and the health and safety of Court personnel, counsel, litigants, other case participants, jurors, persons with other business at the courthouse, and the general public.” Mar. 17, 2020, Order Concerning Operations of the District Court of the Virgin Islands During the COVID-19 Outbreak at 1-2 (Mar. 17, 2020), https://www.vid.uscourts.gov/sites/vid/files/general- ordes/CoronaVirus OperationsOrder.pdf. Among other measures, the Chief Judge continued all criminal trials scheduled from March 18, 2020, through April 16, 2020. The Chief Judge found that the ends of justice required excluding March 18, 2020, through April 16, 2020, from the Speedy Trial count in all criminal matters. The Chief Judge has extended the general order ten times, excluding March 18, 2020, through March 31, 2021, from the Speedy Trial count in all criminal matters. To date, the virus has claimed more than 508,000 lives (25 of which have been in the U.S. Virgin Islands), yet current testing indicates that the rate of contraction of the virus is slowing in recent weeks. Although the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands increased from an average of 1.8 new cases per day in October 2020 to 19.9 new Case: 3:20-cr-00033-RAM-RM Document #: 34 Filed: 02/28/21 Page 1 of 2 United States v. Soto Robles et al. Case No.: 3:20-cr-0033 Order cases per day for the two weeks preceding December 14, 2020, current testing shows a decrease to an average of 8 new cases per day.1 Notwithstanding the decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 in the Virgin Islands over the past few weeks, the Court finds that a continuance of the trial date in this case would be in the best interest of justice. The Court finds that extending the period within which Defendants may be tried under the Speedy Trial Act is necessary for the protection and well-being of the Defendants, the jury, the prosecutors, the witnesses, the Court’s personnel, and the general public at large. The premises considered, it is hereby ORDERED that the time beginning from the date of this order granting an extension through September 13, 2021, shall be excluded in computing the time within which the trial in this matter must be initiated pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161; it is further ORDERED that the parties shall file and serve a pre-trial brief no later than September 6, 2021, which shall include the following: (a) proposed list of witnesses; (b) proposed list of exhibits; (c) estimated length of case-in-chief and case-in-defense; (d) proposed non-standard voir dire questions; and (e) proposed non-standard jury instructions related to the elements of the charges and defenses; it is further ORDERED that the parties shall provide the Clerk of Court with a USB Flash Drive containing electronic versions of exhibits no later than September 8, 2021;2 and it is further ORDERED that the jury selection and trial in this matter previously scheduled for March 15, 2021, are RESCHEDULED to commence promptly at 9:30 A.M. on September 13, 2021, in St. Thomas Courtroom 1. Dated: February 28, 2021 /s/ Robert A. Molloy ROBERT A. MOLLOY District Judge 1From September 30-October 31, 2020, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands rose from 1323 to 1378—an average of 1.8 new cases per day. From November 30-December 14, 2020, the number rose from 1550 to 1828—an average of 19.9 new cases per day. From February 11-25, 2020, positive COVID-19 cases increased from 2524 to 2636—an average of 8 new cases per day. See Virgin Islands Department of Health COVID19 Report, https://www.covid19usvi.com/covid19-report (last visited Feb. 26, 2021). 2 Counsel are advised to consult with Court technical staff to determine the proper format for saving electronic versions of exhibits. The Government’s trial exhibits shall be labelled sequentially beginning with Government’s Exhibit 1. Defense exhibits shall be labelled sequentially beginning with Defense Exhibit A. Case: 3:20-cr-00033-RAM-RM Document #: 34 Filed: 02/28/21 Page 2 of 2