United States District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan Friday approved a motion that will delay a former Roanoke Rapids police officer’s arraignment on two distribution of child pornography charges until May.

Matthew Isaac Nielsen had originally been scheduled for an arraignment next month, according to court records.

Nielsen’s attorney, however, wrote in a motion asking for a time extension that the forensic analysis of devices seized from the former officer has not been completed. “The results of that analysis will be relevant to the consideration of both parties in assessment of any potential plea resolutions,” Raleigh attorney Joseph E. Zeszotarski Jr. wrote.

Zeszotarski also wrote in the motion that he is in the process of obtaining voluminous records relating to Nielsen’s service in the military and prior medical conditions. 

Nielsen served in the United States Marine Corps from 2012 to 2016.

Flanagan set the arraignment for May 12.