The sentencing hearings for four of the former Freedom Industries officials who pleaded guilty in connection with the January 2014 Elk River chemical spill have been postponed until February.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Johnston issued orders on Friday that rescheduled the sentencing hearings for former Freedom officials Gary Southern, Dennis Farrell, William Tis and Charles Herzing.
In each order, Johnston said that "it has been brought to the court's attention that the United States Probation Office will need additional time to complete the draft presentence report in this case."
All four men had been scheduled to be sentenced in December.
Under the new schedule, Southern will be sentenced at 2 p.m. on Feb. 17, Farrell at 2 p.m. on Feb. 11, Tis at 2 p.m. on Feb. 8, and Herzing at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10.
Sentencing hearings remain scheduled for December for two other former Freedom officials, Robert Reynolds and Michael Burdette, and with the bankrupt former Freedom corporate entity.
The six former Freedom officials and the company pleaded guilty to water pollution crimes in a deal with U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.