The religious leader who admitted to molesting 13 children was granted a two-week continuance Wednesday, one day before being sentenced.
Malachi York, leader of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, a mostly black sect based in Putnam County, pleaded guilty to multiple child molestation charges and signed a plea agreement that would send him to prison for 15 years.
York's attorney Ed Garland would not comment on the continuance.
U.S. Attorney Max Wood also declined to say why Garland asked for a continuance.
Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright said if the continuance suggests there is a problem with the federal plea agreement, the state plea still stands unless York decides to withdraw the plea agreement.
"We fully intend to stick to our word in this agreement," Bright said. "For some reason, the federal sentencing hearing has been continued."
In January, York pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of transporting children across state lines for sexual purposes and one count of attempting to evade financial reporting requirements.
The next day, he pleaded guilty to 77 state charges -- 40 counts of aggravated child molestation, 34 counts of child molestation, one count of child exploitation and two counts of influencing a witness.
Under York's plea agreement, he will serve 15 years in federal prison and 14 years for the state charges, which will run concurrent with the federal prison time.
The state sentence requires him to serve an additional 36 years on probation as a sex offender.