govinfo:USCOURTS-moed-4_24-cr-00521-2

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI 
EASTERN DIVISION 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 
Plaintiff, ) 
vs. ) 
) 
DAVID BLANKENSHIP and 
KARLIE BLANKENSHIP, 
) No. 4:24-cr-521 MAL 
Defendants. ) 
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 
Before the Court is Defendant David Blankenship’s Motion to Continue Trial Date 
(Doc. [94]).  Trial in this matter for all defendants is currently set for July 20, 2026.  
Defendant David Blankenship’s counsel states more time is needed to prepare for trial and 
is requesting 90 days. Additionally, counsel will be out of the district during the current 
trial setting.  The Government does not oppose the motion.  Defendant David Blankenship 
has filed an executed waiver of his rights under the Speedy Trial Act (Doc. [95]). 
For the reasons stated in Defendant David Blankenship’s motion, the Court finds 
that denying him a continuance “would deny counsel . . . the reasonable time necessary for 
effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence,” 18 U.S.C. 
§ 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv), and that “the ends of justice served by the granting of such
continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and Defendant in a speedy trial.”  18
U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).
Because Defendant David Blankenship’s trial date will be continued, so will the trial 
date of his co-defendant, Karlie Blankenship.  See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(6) (allowing for the 
exclusion of time when “the defendant is joined for trial with a codefendant as to whom the 
time for trial has not run and no motion for severance has been granted”). 
Accordingly, 
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, as to both defendants, trial in this matter is 
continued to September 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM, in Courtroom 12S. 
)
Case: 4:24-cr-00521-MAL     Doc. #:  96     Filed: 06/16/26     Page: 1 of 2 PageID #:
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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as to both defendants, the time between July 20, 
2026, and September 21, 2026, is excluded from the computation of time under the Speedy 
Trial Act, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(6) and § 3161(h)(6). 
 
Dated this 16th day of June, 2026.   
  _______________________________________ 
  MARIA A. LANAHAN  
             UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 
Case: 4:24-cr-00521-MAL     Doc. #:  96     Filed: 06/16/26     Page: 2 of 2 PageID #:
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