Prosecutor Steve Neff is objecting to a change by Federal Judge Sandy Mattice of the sentencing date for Jackie McConnell and two co-defendants in the horse soring case.
The sentencing had been set for Sept. 10 at 9 a.m., and Judge Mattice moved it to Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.
McConnell has been in the national news after the Humane Society of the United States made public a video showing him mistreating Tennessee Walking Horses.
Prosecutor Neff said he will be in Washington, D.C., Sept. 12-19 and U.S. Attorney Bill Killian is also due to be out of town on Sept. 18.
He said other prosecutors are not familiar with the case, noting that the charges brought last year were the first under the Federal Horse Protection Act that was passed in 1970.
Prosecutor Neff also said the government had scheduled a press conference after the sentencing in which former U.S. Senator Joseph Tydings was scheduled to appear. He was the author of the Horse Protection Act. He said former Senator Tydings had already made his travel arrangements for Sept. 10.
He said the intention was "to answer many of the questions that have been raised in the public about this prosecution." He said due to Justice Department media rules the prosecutors "have been severely limited" in answering inquiries about the case until after the sentencing.
Judge Mattice put down a short order saying, "After careful consideration, said motion is hereby denied."
Jeff Dockery and Joseph Abernathy are also set for sentencing.