The federal sex-trafficking trial of Dr. Albert Aiad-Toss, 52, of Canfield, will not take place Monday as scheduled after he asked the court during a pretrial hearing to postpone it.

No new trial date is set.

Aiad-Toss asked to be allowed to represent himself in his trial, but also asked that attorney Jerome Milano be appointed as a standby attorney. That means Milano would assist Aiad-Toss while he represents himself.

Milano advised Judge Pamela Barker earlier this week that his age puts him at higher risk for serious health concerns if he contracts COVID-19, so he would not consent to going forward with the trial this Monday.

The judge approved the postponement of the trial and set a hearing for Nov. 4 to consider Aiad-Toss’ motion to represent himself.

Separately, the judge also has allowed federal prosecutors to file a motion asking the court to suppress certain information from being presented to a jury in Aiad-Toss’ trial.

She also agreed to allow prosecutors to file the motion “under seal,” meaning the motion would only be available for viewing by the parties in the case, not the public. It is not known what type of information the government seeks to suppress.

In a filing, prosecutors said they wanted to file the motion under seal to protect the privacy of the alleged victims in the case.

“The United States intends to offer evidence at trial that Aiad-Toss targeted, solicited and coerced six minor girls from 12 to 15 years old to engage in sex acts with him and perform sex acts for him in exchange for money,” the filing states.

Aiad-Toss, who worked for an outside company as an emergency room doctor at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital until his charges were unsealed, is facing charges that could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. He remains in the Mahoning County Jail.

erunyan@tribtoday.com