Umel Jackson’s arraignment could be delayed until the new year, according to a motion filed in federal court on Thursday.

Jackson, who was charged in a standoff with law enforcement officers last year in Weldon, has been indicted federally for receiving a weapon while under indictment. Locally, he faces six counts of attempted murder of law enforcement officers and assault on law enforcement officers.

His attorney, Melissa Hill of Tharrington Smith, notes in the motion that Jackson had been in primary state custody in Halifax County and then at Central Prison before being transferred out of state for an evaluation. He is now in custody in Virginia at a facility without access to video conferencing — a location that requires a 3.5- to 4-hour drive.

Jackson is scheduled for a competency hearing next month.

In seeking to move the arraignment to the January term of court, Hill said, “A large quantity of discovery has been produced to [the] defendant in an initial round. Counsel for [the] defendant further needs additional time to obtain and review all discovery in this matter, to consult with [the] defendant, and to research and prepare any pretrial motions, as well as to prepare for trial or other resolution and to coordinate with [the] defendant’s state court counsel and review state court discovery in related cases.”

Hill also wrote in the motion that Jackson and the United States have preliminarily discussed a settlement short of trial and need additional time to continue those discussions with a new assistant United States attorney entering this case last week. The government does not object to the extensions, the motion says.

The court had not acted on the motion as of this report.

In his local case, indictments were handed down earlier this year, and a disposition in that case is tentatively scheduled for January, according to eCourts records.

The federal charge was based on a criminal complaint filed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which says that while under indictment for local crimes, Jackson received a HELLPUP pistol purchased in Roanoke Rapids from another party.

The standoff occurred on May 20 of last year during the execution of the search warrant.

As agents approached the front door of the residence, they noticed that the door was barricaded shut.

One agent, who was still in the front yard at this time, observed Jackson holding a weapon on the second floor. The agent called to him to put the gun down. “At this time, Jackson fired a shot at the agents attempting to breach the door,” the complaint said. “In response, the agents called to Jackson asking him to put the gun down and they didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

In response, according to the complaint, Jackson replied, “it’s too late for that,” and immediately fired a second shot.

Over approximately the next 30 minutes, there was a large law enforcement response, and multiple officers gathered on the road.

Jackson then fired a third shot from the second-story balcony directly over the initial team, nearly striking two agents.

There was a standoff for approximately one hour, and Jackson asked to speak with George Evans of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, his electronic monitor handler.

Evans arrived on the scene and began negotiating with Jackson, who ultimately exited the house along with a woman, who was identified as his sister. He was taken into custody.