CHATTANOOGA (AP) - A judge has issued a gag order in the case of a man charged in the fatal shooting of a Chattanooga police officer after he agreed to talk to a newspaper columnist.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the order bars Jesse Mathews, as well as prosecutors and defense attorneys, from making "any public statements to the media regarding this or related cases," according to court documents.
Mathews is accused of shooting police Sgt. Tim Chapin as the officer attempted to stop him from fleeing an April 2 pawn shop robbery.
The newspaper's attorney, Anthony "Bud" Jackson, said he will file a motion on Monday objecting to the order and asking the judge to either remove or reduce it.
Mathews' trial is set for Jan. 22, 2013.
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