CLEVELAND, Ohio - A federal judge has refused to delay the trial for two men accused in the shooting death of a U.S. postal worker in Warren, denying their request for more time to prepare an argument against the federal death penalty.

U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent issued an order on Tuesday, denying the joint motion from Kaprise Sledge and Thomas Sledge to postpone the trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on Feb. 17, 2026.

The ruling is the latest step by Judge Nugent to keep the case moving forward despite defense arguments about the unique complexities of potential capital punishment cases.

Attorneys for the Sledges argued that the trial date should be moved to give them time to conduct a proper investigation into mitigating issues necessary for submission to the Department of Justice. That submission, part of a formal Department of Justice (DOJ) protocol, allows the defense to present reasons why the government should not seek the death penalty. It typically includes an assessment of the government's case strength, the defendant's role, and any mitigating evidence.

In their motion, the defense included a declaration that outlined the average time required for federal capital cases. That document, prepared by a Capital Resource Counsel attorney who monitors all federal capital prosecutions, stated that for cases authorized for capital prosecution since 2010, the average time between the initial indictment and the start of the trial is 42 months. The Sledges were indicted in October 2024, which put their trial date in February 2026, approximately 16 months from the indictment.

Thomas Sledge (L) Kaprise Sledge (R)
Thomas Sledge (L) Kaprise Sledge (R)  

 

The defense noted that the DOJ process requires the appointment of specialized personnel, such as mitigation specialists, to help prepare the submission against the death penalty.

In his initial August order setting the current trial date, Judge Nugent addressed the defense's request for more time, noting the case had been postponed "on multiple occasions" at the defendants’ request. The court's initial order mentioned that previous defense motions for expert appointments, additional counsel, and discovery issues had "tolled repeatedly" the speedy trial times.

The judge pointed to the need to "preserve the interests of the Defendants and the public in a just and speedy resolution of this case".

In the August order, the judge has maintained that a trial date can be kept while the death penalty decision process is underway, noting that the government has not yet formally disclosed whether it intends to pursue capital charges.

Judge Nugent did, however, leave open the possibility of a future delay, stating that if the government decides to seek the death penalty and the defendants “reasonably believe they need more time,” the court would be receptive to another request for an extension.

The request for a delay follows an earlier, related dispute over access to information needed for the anti-death penalty submission. In an order earlier in August 2025, Judge Nugent refused a defense request to compel prosecutors to turn over a list of cooperating witnesses.

The Sledges’ attorneys had argued that the statements and identities of any cooperating witnesses were important to the defense and necessary for them to thoroughly prepare their written argument for the Department of Justice.

Judge Nugent ruled that federal law and rules of criminal procedure do not require the government to disclose potential witness statements until that witness has testified at trial. He further noted that the Department of Justice's practice of allowing defendants to submit arguments against the death penalty is not a requirement of the Constitution.

The legal defense teams are preparing their case while the fate of the capital charge remains uncertain. The two are charged with the March 2024 killing of mail carrier Jonte Davis in Warren.

During a pretrial conference held on the same day the delay was refused, the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed it would submit its proposal on the potential capital charge to the Attorney General by Oct. 24. The defense will then have an opportunity to submit a response to the proposal.

The next pretrial conference in the case is scheduled for noon on Dec. 18, 2025.