T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Sandton Browder of Virginia, waives his right to a speedy trial in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Virginia native Sandton Browder, accused of shooting and killing another man in Bellaire in January, ​​waived his right to a speedy trial in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on Monday morning.

Browder, 23, is accused of shooting and killing Jordan Dean, 24, of North Carolina at a Bellaire house on Jan. 15. Browder was represented by Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller, who informed Judge Christopher Berhalter that he will be waiving his right to a speedy trial.

“The trial date that is set currently is not a realistic trial date, probably for either of us. I’ve spoken to my client about signing a time waiver. He is willing to do that,” Miller said. “There will be at least one expert that I will require in this case, and there may be more. I’m in the process of obtaining my clients educational records, particularly IEPs (Individualized Education Program), which may shed some light on some things with regard to this case.”

Browder was indicted by a Belmont County grand jury. He faces one count of murder with a gun specification and one count of having a weapon while under disability.

Berhalter previously informed Browder that he could face life in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years for one count of murder with a gun specification and a maximum of three years having a weapon while under disability charge. He said that if Browder would be convicted of both offenses he would be sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 21 years.

The trial was set for March 26 at 8:30 a.m. but with the waiver of a speedy trial, no new trial date has been set.

On Monday, Miller said that some discovery has been provided by the state but he is anticipating that more items of discovery will be given to him.

“Based on the things I haven’t seen yet, I will probably need the assistance of experts,” Miller said.

Berhalter said that, due to what he anticipated to be a plethora of motions to still be filed, he told Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan that, going forward, the state will label its incoming motions with letters and that Miller shall label his motions with numbers.

Berhalter then said that, if Browder is interested in waiving his right to a speedy trial, he will need to sign a written waiver.

“Mr. Browder, you have a right to a speedy trial, that is, the state of Ohio must bring you to trial within 270 days from the date you were charged, or 90 days if you remain in custody. Since it is your right, you have the ability to waive that,” Berhalter said. “It’s my understanding that you wish to waive your right to a speedy trial, and you’ve executed a written waiver of that, right?”

Browder confirmed that he had executed that written waiver of a speedy trial, and Berhalter then scheduled the next pretrial hearing for March 23 at 10 a.m. in Common Pleas Court.