The federal court in Springfield, Missouri has granted a defense motion to continue to next year the trial of a Samoan man accused of using for his own personal gain more than $300,000 he got from a marching band to pay for the band’s  trip to Hawai’i in 2012.

Trial for Calliope R. Saaga, 39, was initially set for next month but attorney David R. Mercer with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, representing the defendant, asked the court for a continuance to February next year, saying that additional time is needed to conduct critical evaluations of the discovery, relevant guidelines, potential pretrial motions, and to make a thorough and complete evaluation of the case.

He said such an evaluation is essential to fully and effectively explore all options to resolve this matter. Additionally, discovery in this case is “complex and voluminous and will be tedious and time-consuming to effectively review.”

Mercer says the motion is made for the purpose of insuring that Saaga has every possible chance to fully defend this action. Further additional time is needed for defense counsel to prepare for trial and to provide complete advice to the Defendant as to the options for resolving this case.

In an order dated June 23, U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush granted the motion and set trial for Feb 23, 2015.

Federal Prosecutors have alleged that the defendant was wired $360,000 by Willard High School Band in Missouri to pay for a trip to Hawai’i in the summer of 2012 for 300 students and chaperones.

However, the defendant - who lives and operates a travel agency in Utah -  used the money to finance his personal lifestyle, which included travel to Samoa. He was charged last month under a 15-count indictment.