CENTRALIA, IL — A trial scheduled next week in federal court for a 35-year-old Centralia man has been delayed as new evidence has been recovered in the weapons case. Jerry Courtney is charged in federal court with being a felon in possession of a firearm following his arrest by Centralia police in April.

The federal court Wednesday morning agreed to delay Courtney’s September 29 jury trial until November 2, as additional time is needed to complete DNA evidence. The prosecution has also been informed additional evidence from the review/search of a cellular phone recovered at the scene of the incident is about to be tendered and counsel will need time to review those results. Courtney was arrested when as a passenger he fled on foot from a vehicle being stopped by Centralia police and a bag he allegedly left behind was found to contain a 9 mm Taurus handgun was reportedly found inside. At the time of the traffic stop, Courtney was on parole for convictions in Marion County Court for felony residential burglary and aggravated possession of between 11 and 20 stolen firearms.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois filed a motion to have Courtney detained claiming he’s a flight risk and a danger to the community and the court subsequently issued a federal warrant for his arrest.