Federal court proceedings have been continued for two men charged in separate cases — Omar Ponton’s arraignment and Katoe Harris Sr.’s trial.

Ponton

District Court Judge Terrence W. Boyle Wednesday approved a motion granting a continuance for today’s scheduled arraignment of Ponton.

The case will be reset during the January term of court.

Ponton was charged in a two-count indictment.

The first count of the indictment charges that Ponton — on or about March 3 — distributed a quantity of fentanyl while the second count charges he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a prison term of one year while he possessed a firearm used in the commission of a crime.

Ponton has been in federal custody since his arrest.

Harris

Jury selection and trial for Harris is set for January 8 at 10 a.m. before Boyle in Elizabeth City.

Harris was named in a three-count federal indictment based on a Halifax County Sheriff’s Office investigation which led to his local arrest in January in Roanoke Rapids.

In count one of the indictment the federal grand jury charges that Harris possessed with the intent to distribute crack. Count two charges that he possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Count three charges that he had previously been convicted of a crime and knowingly possessed a firearm that was used in affecting commerce.

The indictment says that count one was committed after a prior felony conviction for a felony drug offense.