The lack of a federal budget and the lapse in funding for the U.S. Department of Justice are two reasons why a federal judge on Thursday continued the trial of Clint Addleman of Morrisdale, who is charged in the bombing death of a 34-year-old Clearfield woman.

Shawna Carlson died on the morning of Oct. 4, 2019, when she opened a package placed on the front doorstep of her apartment on the 300 block of East Market Street.

The bomb, in killing Carlson, also decimated the apartment structure, but after a lengthy investigation, federal and state authorities arrested Addleman, 48, and Kris Joseph Nevling, 48, of Houtzdale.

They were charged with conspiring to maliciously destroy property by explosion or fire and with possession of an unregistered destructive device

Nevling was convicted of the offenses in August.

Addleman was expected to go on trial in late October but the trial date was continued until early December because Addleman’s defense team sought more time to prepare for trial.

The initial delay came about because the defense lawyers complained that federal funds through the Justice Department were set to lapse in April due to budget concerns.

However, Congress failed to pass a new budget or approve a continuing resolution to keep the government open.

On Oct. 1, the government itself shut down, resulting in additional funding difficulties for the Department of Justice.

As the shutdown continued into November, Addleman’s lead defense attorney, Frank C. Walker of Clairton, filed a new motion to continue the trial from its Dec. 2 start date.

Walker sought a continuance of six months — beginning from the time criminal justice funding is restored.

The prosecution, led by Acting United States Attorney for Western Pennsylvania Troy Rivetti, called the defense request “unreasonable.”

He argued in a petition filed Tuesday, “Defense counsel now argues that they may only defend their client after they have received clarity on their funding, implying a possibly open-ended continuance.”

He pointed out the timing of the request comes only weeks before the proposed start of the trial on Dec. 2.

“Given the timing of this request, it is unjustifiable,” the Rivetti response stated.

Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown granted a delay of the Addleman trial in a Thursday order, with March 9, 2026, as the new date for the selection of a jury.

Haines pointed out that she rejected the defense request for an open-ended delay in the trial.

In her order, Haines stated, “the Government has filed a response in opposition to Mr. Addleman’s motion.”

She noted that the prosecution has already provided extensive discovery to the defense, and she emphasized a prosecution point that the rights of the victims (for a speedy trial) “militate against such a continuance” as suggested by the defense.

She agreed with the prosecution that memories of witnesses could fade as time passes.

Haines also pointed out the case was not “brand new” to the defense when the funding stopped.

“On the other hand,” she stated, “Mr. Addleman’s counsel has made serious representations about their ability to adequately represent Mr. Addleman in light of the current budgetary realities.”

The “ends of justice” require Addleman’s defense team to have time necessary for the effective preparation of its case, she stated in her Thursday order.

“The Court finds that a trial in December 2025 would not be appropriate,” she stated.

The defense in its petition for continuance emphasized that Addleman’s lawyers have been “largely unable to conduct investigation or ask service providers to work on Mr. Addleman’s behalf since April 2025.”

Addleman’s counsel is awaiting transcripts of trial testimony in the Nevling case, and the defense stated, “Substantial investigation work remains outstanding due to the unavailability of defense funding.

“Much of the defense work cannot be done without certainty of (criminal justice funding) for attorney, investigator and service provider hours,” the Walker petition concluded.

If convicted, Addleman faces life behind bars.

Haines noted that state prosecutors are awaiting the outcome of Addleman’s federal case, noting that he faces additional charges in Clearfield County.

Addleman is presently incarcerated in a federal prison in Ohio.