GUILTY CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, found deceased, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020* #2

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Tuesday, February 8th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 70) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 reference post #132 here:
MISTRIAL - CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, found deceased, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020* #2
11/8/21 Update: Prosecutors will pursue a new trial for Pankey. Judge Timothy Kerns denied Tony Viorst's request to modify Pankey's bond. He's being held in custody on a $5 million cash-only bond. Viorst also withdrew as Pankey's attorney Monday, saying he doesn't have time or energy to devote to trying the case again given his small law practice & his age. The court appointed public defenders to represent Pankey. Pankey's new public defenders said they are looking into whether Pankey's new trial should be moved out of Weld County, given heavy media coverage of the case. Judge Kerns set a status conference hearing for 1:15pm 11/17/21.
11/17/21 Update: Pankey on Wednesday withdrew his not guilty plea to kidnapping & murder charges in the case to prevent legal issues with his speedy trial rights. Public Defender John Walsh noted it’s “exceedingly likely” Pankey will reenter a plea of not guilty. Walsh asked Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns to set a status hearing in about six months to give the defense time to review the evidence in the case. The defense filed a couple of motions that were briefly discussed Wednesday, including one regarding the release of juror information & another objecting to expanded media coverage. Kerns set a Dec. 10 deadline for prosecutors to file a response to the defense’s motion regarding the release of juror information, noting media would need to apply before the same deadline if they would like to get involved because he would not plan to make the document public if it is granted. The public defender’s office would then have a week to reply, at which point Kerns would issue an order as quickly as possible. A motions hearing was set for 1:30 pm on 2/8/21 & arraignment hearing on 5/3/22.
 
Couldn't find any recent articles on what kind of motions were heard in the hearing yesterday. Does anyone have a link to the details - motions filed - for this case. I don't seem to have a link. TIA! :)



Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
5/3/22
1:30 PM 30M IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Arraignment D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search
 
Court sets May 2022 status hearing for Steve Pankey case

Court sets May 2022 status hearing for Steve Pankey case – Greeley Tribune

Another trial in the case of Steve Pankey, the 70-year-old man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in December 1984, won’t come for at least another six months as the Colorado Public Defender’s Office reviews the case.

Pankey on Wednesday withdrew his not guilty plea to kidnapping and murder charges in the case to prevent legal issues with his speedy trial rights. Public Defender John Walsh noted it’s “exceedingly likely” Pankey will reenter a plea of not guilty.

Walsh asked Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns to set a status hearing in about six months to give the defense time to review the evidence in the case.

A status hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. May 3.


The defense filed a couple of motions that were briefly discussed Wednesday, including one regarding the release of juror information and another objecting to expanded media coverage, which was granted to certain media companies over the course of the trial to allow photographs, video and audio recordings. Walsh said they may file one or two more pleadings.
 
Tuesday, May 3rd:
*Arraignment Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 70) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 thru 11/8/21 reference post #141 here:
MISTRIAL - CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, found deceased, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020* #2
11/17/21 Update: Pankey on Wednesday withdrew his not guilty plea to kidnapping & murder charges in the case to prevent legal issues with his speedy trial rights. Public Defender John Walsh noted it’s “exceedingly likely” Pankey will reenter a plea of not guilty. Walsh asked Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns to set a status hearing in about six months to give the defense time to review the evidence in the case. The defense filed a couple of motions that were briefly discussed Wednesday, including one regarding the release of juror information & another objecting to expanded media coverage. Kerns set a Dec. 10 deadline for prosecutors to file a response to the defense’s motion regarding the release of juror information, noting media would need to apply before the same deadline if they would like to get involved because he would not plan to make the document public if it is granted. The public defender’s office would then have a week to reply, at which point Kerns would issue an order as quickly as possible. A motions hearing was set for 1:30 pm on 2/8/21 & arraignment hearing on 5/3/22.
2/8/21 Update: The defense filed a couple of motions that were briefly discussed Wednesday, including one regarding the release of juror information & another objecting to expanded media coverage, which was granted to certain media companies over the course of the trial to allow photographs, video and audio recordings. Walsh said they may file one or two more pleadings. Next arraignment hearing on 5/3/22.
 
MAY 3, 2022
Suspect in 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews gets new attorneys | 9news.com
The public defender who took over Steven Pankey's defense last year in the 1984 death of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews has withdrawn from the case, citing an "irreconcilable conflict of interest."

The issue of Pankey's representation was the focus of a court hearing Tuesday in Weld County District Court, though specifics of the conflict weren't discussed. Judge Timothy Kerns set a closed hearing for May 12 to address the issue.

[...]

Defense attorney in Jonelle Matthews case raises possible conflict issues – Greeley Tribune
[...]

Merson said issues over the past month led him to request the hearing but didn’t go into further detail. The Public Defender’s Office, which had taken Pankey’s case after the withdrawal of his defense attorney through the trial, withdrew from the case in the past month. The court then appointed Merson and Eric Zale to Pankey’s case.

Judge Timothy Kerns explained to Pankey the hearing, called a Bergurud hearing, would be an implicit waiver of Pankey’s attorney-client privilege to the extent needed to make a determination on the underlying issues with Pankey’s current representation.

[...]
 
Thursday, May 12th:
*Bergurud Hearing (Closed hearing) (@ 2:30pm MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 70) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 thru 11/8/21 & 11/17/21 reference post #148 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-8
2/8/21 Update: The defense filed a couple of motions that were briefly discussed Wednesday, including one regarding the release of juror information & another objecting to expanded media coverage, which was granted to certain media companies over the course of the trial to allow photographs, video and audio recordings. Walsh said they may file one or two more pleadings. Next arraignment hearing on 5/3/22.
5/3/22 Update: The public defender who took over Pankey's defense last year has withdrawn from the case, citing an "irreconcilable conflict of interest." The issue of Pankey's representation was the focus of a court hearing Tuesday, though specifics of the conflict weren't discussed. Judge Timothy Kerns set a closed hearing for 5/12/22 to address the issue. The Public Defender’s Office, which had taken Pankey’s case after the withdrawal of his defense attorney through the trial, withdrew from the case in the past month. The court then appointed Merson & Eric Zale to Pankey’s case. Judge Timothy Kerns explained to Pankey the hearing, called a Bergurud hearing, would be an implicit waiver of Pankey’s attorney-client privilege to the extent needed to make a determination on the underlying issues with Pankey’s current representation.
 
And we have a trial date! I cut out the dates from the beginning of trial to the end - to save space... :)


Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
6/3/22
2:30 PM 30M IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Status ConferenceD622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

8/12/22
9:00 PM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

8/26/22
9:00 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

9/22/22
1:15 PM 30M IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Pre-Trial Readiness Conference D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

Thru:

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search
 
Friday, June 3rd:
*Status Conference (@ 2:30pm MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 70) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial set to begin on 10/4/22. (thru 11/4/22)
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 thru 11/8/21 & 11/17/21 thru 2/8/21 reference post #151 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-8
5/3/22 Update: The public defender who took over Pankey's defense last year has withdrawn from the case, citing an "irreconcilable conflict of interest." The issue of Pankey's representation was the focus of a court hearing Tuesday, though specifics of the conflict weren't discussed. Judge Timothy Kerns set a closed hearing for 5/12/22 to address the issue. The Public Defender’s Office, which had taken Pankey’s case after the withdrawal of his defense attorney through the trial, withdrew from the case in the past month. The court then appointed Merson & Eric Zale to Pankey’s case. Judge Timothy Kerns explained to Pankey the hearing, called a Bergurud hearing, would be an implicit waiver of Pankey’s attorney-client privilege to the extent needed to make a determination on the underlying issues with Pankey’s current representation.
5/12/22 Update: Next status conference hearing on 6/3/22, motions hearings on 8/12 & 8/26 & pretrial readiness conference hearing on 9/20 & trial set to begin on 10/4/22 thru 11/4/22.
 
Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
8/12/22
9:00 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

8/26/22
9:00 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

9/20/22
8:15 AM 30M IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Pre-Trial Readiness Conference D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

thru

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search
 
MAY 12, updated MAY 13, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com

Defense attorneys dismissed from Jonelle Matthews case

Following a closed hearing Thursday, Pankey’s court-appointed attorneys, Merson and Eric Zale, were dismissed. The dismissal is the third departure of Pankey’s defense teams.
www.greeleytribune.com www.greeleytribune.com
The 70-year-old man accused of the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews is once again without a defense team following a hearing this week.

Attorney James Merson last week asked Judge Timothy Kerns for a Bergurud hearing to determine if there was sufficient conflict requiring defendant Steve Pankey to seek a new attorney or represent himself. Merson then said issues over the past month led him to request the hearing but didn’t go into further detail about the issues.

Following a closed hearing Thursday, Pankey’s court-appointed attorneys, Merson and Eric Zale, were dismissed. The dismissal is the third departure of Pankey’s defense teams.

[...]

MAY 13, updated MAY 18, 2022
www.coloradoan.com

Man accused in Jonelle Matthews murder case set for retrial; court seeks new attorney

An Idaho man may be representing himself in the new trial after a judge allowed attorneys from the public defender's office to withdraw from the case.
www.coloradoan.com
Update, May 18: Two attorneys — Jessica Brazil and Peter Harris — have been appointed to represent Steve Pankey. He is next scheduled to appear in court June 3.

[...]
 
PommyMommy said:
MAY 12, updated MAY 13, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com

Defense attorneys dismissed from Jonelle Matthews case

Following a closed hearing Thursday, Pankey’s court-appointed attorneys, Merson and Eric Zale, were dismissed. The dismissal is the third departure of Pankey’s defense teams.
www.greeleytribune.com www.greeleytribune.com
The 70-year-old man accused of the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews is once again without a defense team following a hearing this week.

Attorney James Merson last week asked Judge Timothy Kerns for a Bergurud hearing to determine if there was sufficient conflict requiring defendant Steve Pankey to seek a new attorney or represent himself. Merson then said issues over the past month led him to request the hearing but didn’t go into further detail about the issues.

Following a closed hearing Thursday, Pankey’s court-appointed attorneys, Merson and Eric Zale, were dismissed. The dismissal is the third departure of Pankey’s defense teams.

[...]

MAY 13, updated MAY 18, 2022
www.coloradoan.com

Man accused in Jonelle Matthews murder case set for retrial; court seeks new attorney

An Idaho man may be representing himself in the new trial after a judge allowed attorneys from the public defender's office to withdraw from the case.
www.coloradoan.com
Update, May 18: Two attorneys — Jessica Brazil and Peter Harris — have been appointed to represent Steve Pankey. He is next scheduled to appear in court June 3.

[...]
Click to expand...
Did he appear?
 
JUN 3, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com

Motions deadline, hearing set ahead of retrial in Jonelle Matthews case

A second jury trial is set to begin 8:30 a.m. Oct. 4 in Weld District Court.
www.greeleytribune.com www.greeleytribune.com
Both the prosecution and the defense have until July 15 to file motions in prosecutors’ case against Steve Pankey for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley.

Pankey appeared in court Friday afternoon with two newly appointed attorneys...

Brazil said they’re working diligently to review the substantial amount of evidence in the case but weren’t ready to proceed. She requested a due date of July 15 to file motions, to get the maximum amount of time to review the evidence. A full-day motions hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 12.

[...]

A second jury trial is set to begin 8:30 a.m. Oct. 4 in Weld District Court.

@lisette, yes he did. ^^^
 
Looks like they cancelled the 8/12/22 hearing.

Docket update:
Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
8/26/22
9:00 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

9/20/22
8:15 AM 30M IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Pre-Trial Readiness Conference D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

thru

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search
 
48 Hours just did a rebroadcast of this case. I'd previously seen it, but they updated with the mistrial and new trial date. Shocked that it was a mistrial. I'll be watching the retrial. Just curious why neither side did a Psychiatric eval on him so that he couldn't plead Insanity. Looks like his previous defense lawyer was claiming that he was mentally ill. Wouldn't you want to prove that?
Also, my theory is that he kept running for the position of Sheriff because he thought that it would make him immune from prosecution.
 
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