NATCHEZ (AP) — A federal judge has declined a lawyer’s request to delay the trial of a man charged with participating in a deadly prison riot in Mississippi.

Ernesto Lizama-Reynaga is charged with participating in the May 20, 2012, riot at the privately run Adams County Correctional Facility in Natchez.

Correction officer Catlin Carithers was beaten to death during the uprising.

Attorney Aafram Sellers asked for a delay of the trial, scheduled for Aug. 5, so he could have more time to prepare and advise his client on whether to plead guilty.

U.S. District Judge David Bramlette in Natchez turned down the request.

The riot involved hundreds of inmates and injured at least 20 people.

The prison holds nearly 2,500 inmates convicted of crimes while being in the U.S. illegally.