Warnock asks for another trial delay

Attorneys for embattled former Madison County Engineer Rudy Warnock and former Canton Municipal Utilities Chairman Cleveland Anderson filed separate motions last week to request another continuance in their ongoing federal bribery cases. 

The cases, which have been continued nearly a dozen times, were set to begin on Aug. 5. As of Wednesday morning, U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate had yet to rule on the motions. 

Warnock was indicted in 2021 on federal bribery and wire fraud charges in connection with his work at Canton Municipal Utilities. Anderson, along with Canton aldermen Eric Gilkey and Andrew Grant, were also indicted on bribery charges. 

Gilkey and Grant pleaded guilty. Anderson initially pleaded guilty but then told Wingate he did nothing wrong, so his plea was revoked, and he was scheduled to stand trial with Warnock. 

In June, Anderson was approved for a Criminal Justice Act attorney given to indigent individuals on trial. 

If Judge Wingate were to grant the continuance, it’s likely the trial would be pushed past October into late fall or early winter as the U.S. Attorney’s Office has conflicts in September and October, they told the judge in June. 

Warnock was indicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of wire fraud after indictments were unsealed in November 2022. 

According to the indictments, Warnock is alleged to have gifted cash, football tickets, and concert tickets in exchange for engineering contracts with the city of Canton and CMU.

Anderson and the others were indicted on bribery charges.