CLEVELAND, Ohio - In spite of protests from prosecutors, a federal judge has agreed to delay the trial of a Canfield doctor being held in jail for alleged sex trafficking six girls as young as 12 years old.

U.S. District Judge Pamela Barker has granted a request from Dr. Albert Aiad-Toss to delay his August trial on ten counts of sex trafficking a minor and two counts of child pornography.

The doctor’s attorney successfully argued that a psychiatrist needs more time to evaluate Aiad-Toss before he goes on trial for allegedly forcing girls between the ages of 12 and 15 to engage in what prosecutors describe as “commercial sex acts”.

A September 21 court date has been set at which Aiad-Toss will either go on trial or enter a plea in the case, according to court documents.

Pointing out that proceedings have already been three times, government prosecutors argued there are six alleged victims whose rights would be violated by further delays.

“The victims range from 12 to 15 years old, and they have been suffering the stress of this case for several months,” writes Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein in her motion.  “The alleged crimes occurred over one year before the current trial date, and the case has been pending close to one year. 

In issuing her order, Judge Parker said the Court is concerned about the impact of the delay on the six child victims. However, the Judge also acknowledged "the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the ability to conduct proceedings, to include trials, and Defendant’s expert(s) to conduct appropriate evaluations, has been and is beyond this Court’s control."

Aiad-Toss, 52, has been in the Mahoning County jail since his arrest in mid-September.

Aiad-Toss previously worked as an emergency room doctor at St. Elizabeth's hospital in Boardman, although he worked for an outside company, not Mercy Health directly. He was removed from St. Elizabeth's schedule when the initial allegations came to light.