Delays continue in Milan Twp. hitman case

MILAN TWP. — A woman accused of attempting to hire a hitman to carry out a killing remains in a Lucas County jail as the federal case against her continues to be delayed.Sandra Haughawout, 70, of the 13200 block of Perrin Road, was arrested June 4 on a charge of solicitation to commit a crime of violence. She has not yet been indicted on that charge.Haughawout allegedly offered an undercover FBI agent posing as killer-for-hire up to $10,000 to kill her former son-in-law, according to a criminal complaint filed in Toledo's U.S. District Court.She's being held at the Lucas County Corrections Center as she awaits further court dates.Magistrate Judge James Knepp II approved a motion to exclude time period between June 4 and Aug. 10 from counting toward Haughawout's speedy trial time.Under U.S. law, a defendant has a right to have a their case heard at trial within 90 days of their arrest and subsequent jailing.Under certain circumstances, periods of time can be excluded from speedy trial time.Another motion filed Aug. 6 by U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said he and Haughawout's attorney, Toledo-based lawyer David Klucas, want another time period — from Aug. 10 until Sept. 21 — excluded from speedy trial time."The best interests of justice served by this delay outweigh the defendant's and the public's interests in a speedy trial because defense counsel (Klucas) would like time to discuss the case and possible resolution with the defendant prior to indictment."Klucas said he was "not in a position to answer" what possible resolutions have been discussed.Knepp has not yet ruled on the new motion. Haughawout does not have any pending court dates.Reach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterSandra Lee Haughawout