Sentencing for a Roanoke Rapids man charged federally for Northampton County crimes has been rescheduled from today to the first week in January.
The new sentencing hearing date comes as the attorney for Michael Christopher Harris filed objections Tuesday to his client’s presentence investigation report. Details contained in that report are under seal and cannot be publicly viewed.
His sentencing is now set for the January 3 term of court in New Bern before District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan.
Late last month a motion was filed to extend the pre-trial motions in the case for 21 days.
Harris faces two federal weapons counts — one charging him with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and the other charging him with possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He was indicted on those counts in November of 2019.
Harris is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service and being housed in the Onslow County Jail.
The attorney for Harris requested additional time to file presetence objections in the case while he prepared for another federal case.
Harris had initially maintained his innocence in the case but in July pleaded guilty to one of the counts lodged against him. He pleaded guilty to the second count against him — that he possessed a firearm and ammo around April 3 of 2019.
The federal charges he faces are tied to two separate shooting investigations which took place in Northampton County.
Since April, Harris had maintained he was innocent and that his right to a speedy trial was being infringed upon.
Harris claimed he was set up while the real shooters were still free. He also claimed that his motion of discovery would prove his innocence.