2010.03.18 KC's indigency hearing #1

[mikeysmommom]

Yep, more collateral damage ... someone else may lose their job over this ... when will it end ... how many more people will get dragged into this ??

From what I read one of the inmates passing notes was an ex-correctional officer and that may be why she was able to get special "privileges"

Collateral Damage :furious:!!!!! He went against the rules:furious:..........by by see ya
DRAGGED he should have done his job. He should be fired in a jail it can be very dangerous when guards bends rules like this .This week letters, next week maybe drugs, He caused his own problems.

 

[FeelSoOld]

hey there Dawg :seeya:

JB in his testimony was talking about the list of experts that the State has filed and he was naming agencies and said "even the Secret Service at one point was consulted." I caught it - wrote it down in my notes I did. I thought it odd and wondered why.

Thankx for the insight.

Snipped from the USSS website:

What types of crimes does the Secret Service investigate?

The Secret Service has primary jurisdiction to investigate threats against Secret Service protectees as well as financial crimes, which include counterfeiting of U.S. currency or other U.S. Government obligations; forgery or theft of U.S. Treasury checks, bonds or other securities; credit card fraud; telecommunications fraud; computer fraud, identify fraud and certain other crimes affecting federally insured financial institutions.

• What legal authority and powers do Secret Service agents have?
  
  Under Title 18, Section 3056, of the United States Code, agents and officers of the United States Secret Service can:
  • Carry firearms
  • Execute warrants issued under the laws of the United States
  • Make arrests without warrants for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony recognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed such felony
  • Offer and pay rewards for services and information leading to the apprehension of persons involved in the violation of the law that the Secret Service is authorized to enforce
  • Investigate fraud in connection with identification documents, fraudulent commerce, fictitious instruments and foreign securities and
  • Perform other functions and duties authorized by law
  The Secret Service works closely with the United States Attorney's Office in both protective and investigative matters.
  

More at link: http://www.secretservice.gov/faq.shtml#faq2

 

[gitana1]

Here is a new blog post by Mr. Hornsby:

http://blog.richardhornsby.com/2010...7-regarding-determination-of-indigent-status/

Thanks so much for this. There are a lot of great comments by Hornsby under the article. Illuminating to me.

That leaves over a quarter million that is unaccounted for other than paying JB directly. I can't see he could have used $50K in the depos and experts he has used so far (HL and the autopsy guy from MI and perhaps an entymologist).

Respectfully snipped for space. I can easily see 50k being spent on experts such as casey has, thus far in the case. Capital cases cane be very expensive.
Nevertheless, I call shenanigans. Lots of weird stuff going on with funds and Baez. I only saw snips of the hearing but I've read the comments. Wow. Baez brokering deals? Not keeping account of what he's spending casey's funds on? And then having the gall to ask for state funds? Look, if it's a flat fee case, I don't think a defense attorney needs to keep track of their time. (Although I do it anyhow in my flat fee family law cases just as a precaution). But in this case, he must have known it was a possibility that he would need to ask the state to fund some of the expert fess and costs. Thus, I think he had a duty to keep track. Really bad lawyering.
I've often said that people generally choose attorneys who most share their own ethical standards. Jerks pick jerk lawyers. Aholes pick aholes, etc. It really looks like this is proving true in casey's case. The rats have come out of the woodwork to help her out. Ick.

 

[Spangle]

Does anyone else see the impact of Todd Macaluso putting his own money into the defense fund???? Was he attempting to "launder" it through out of State channels in an effort to hide it from those investigating his books for misuse of client money????? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Considering his connection to the case, We would be stupid not to request a complete accounting of KC's money.

Personally, I don't have a problem with ABS giving money for the photo's. It SAVED the Tax payers SOME money.. and they (media news ) do make money by running the story. So it's only fair they kick in some of the funds. However, It has always been my thought that JB was going to waste it away, then ask for public funds.

Soooo, I hope they go through those records with a fine tooth comb.

 

[notthatsmart]

Well its been a long day. Just wanted to make a comment. I commend the defense for showing up in support of Kc. Even Lkb was there. The fact that they recieved the secret info Tuesday, to me means its nothing. Sounds like it was obtained illegally anyway. Kc new Lawyer reminds me of F lee Bailey. I watched F. Lee in the OJ trial and at first thought of him as a goofy old man, but once he started cross examining, I realized he is the best there is. The indigency thing really doesn't matter to me. If the state does not want to pay for it, I am sure there will be plenty of donors to pay for the defense. I thought Kc looked good today. It has been almost 2 years, its okay with me if she smiles now or laughs. Its human nature even in the midst of disaster. I think Jb has done an excellent job of assembling a good defense team. He did what he could with the knowledge he had. So, if the Sa would like to get rid of Jb, who would be next? I mean if I were the Sa, I would stop all this financial inquiry and get my eye back on the ball, because no one and I mean no one is talking evidence these days. MOO

 

[Spangle]

So Andrea states that students are not paying any money?? Or that they are not being paid money???? My question is......if Depaul students are working on the case as part of their class........AND if they are students paying tuition.....then there is another can of worms to look into.

She states her clinic is a charitable organization. Who is going to ask for those records that, by law, MUST be made public???????

Having students work on cases I think is the norm. Students rather work on a case in progress, then research for a dead case.. Ya know.

She also stated that her Clinic is in the hole, on this case. Not exactly sure what she meant by that.

She is using the Clinic funds to pay for expenses. Does that include her travel expenses??? She said she had not billed KC for travel. But she didn't say she turned the expenses over to the Clinic.

AL put on a sad ACT today. She chose her words carefully. Poor, poor AL. Sorry, I don't feel sorry for her problem. Wasn't it her that threaten to file a bunch of motions, etc... Now she whines about how many man hrs that took to make all those silly, wasted motions.

 

[Spangle]

Anyone put in a call to Liz Brown at Depaul for a comment about Depaul raising $$ for a FL. case????? I'd like to see those non-profit forms please...... and the accounting records.

Oh,I soooo want to see a report about that. LOL!

She said the Clinic went in the hole on this case.

 

[Spangle]

In my opinion, That money will not be allowed to remain in Casey's trust account. IF he is indeed being investigated for misappropriating funds from one client's trust account in the neighborhood of 100K, there is now way those ill gotten gains will stay in another client of his, Casey's, trust account. That is going back and there will be a bar complaint to accompany it, I am hoping. When you are a kid and your mom notices something new you have and you say Johnny gave it to ya, your mom calls Johnny's mom....guess what..if it turns out little Johnny is on punishment for stealing two of those from the store...you don't get to keep yours. No , your mom marches you straight up to the store to return it and ask them if they want to press charges. You don't get to say ..it wasn't me ...mom and dad. Well at least not in my house, that would be the fasted and straightest path to a whipping to try to pass the buck. I think that is what Jose needs a dad figure, a Sr. Partner to take him under his wing and show him the ropes a bit. So Captain Cowbow has arrived in Mr. Cheney.

<<< snip to make it shorter >>>

As an officer of the court, the right thing for Baez to do once he learned of the trust fund money debacle in Todd's other case would have been to return the money straight away. He sure has no problem jumping up and down trying to report things, that he feels he must, as an officer of the court, he often says he has a duty to disclose that there may be a conflict of interest regarding Mark now representing TES. Right? The defense has brought that matter to the judge's attention a number of times. Then something serious like 70 grand comes up and they take the don't ask. don't tell approach? It is Hubris, plain and simple. Hurray for Judge Strickland for making it all be on the record.
I bet Mr. Hornsby fell out laughing when he heard Mr. Baez inform the court that Mr. Malcuso gave the defense seventy thousand dollars. I know I did.You just can't make this stuff up!!

Note to the defense: You haven't heard the last of this from the judge, not by a long shot. Baez will tag along like the little brother as long as he can, but he too will drop off the case, or be removed if the judge finds the 70 grand as unethical as I do.

Wasn't it about that time that the Judge filed something about JB with the Bar, for them to investigate...

I now wonder if it was about that $70,000

 

[TorisMom003]

Well its been a long day. Just wanted to make a comment. I commend the defense for showing up in support of Kc. Even Lkb was there. The fact that they recieved the secret info Tuesday, to me means its nothing. Sounds like it was obtained illegally anyway. Kc new Lawyer reminds me of F lee Bailey. I watched F. Lee in the OJ trial and at first thought of him as a goofy old man, but once he started cross examining, I realized he is the best there is. The indigency thing really doesn't matter to me. If the state does not want to pay for it, I am sure there will be plenty of donors to pay for the defense. I thought Kc looked good today. It has been almost 2 years, its okay with me if she smiles now or laughs. Its human nature even in the midst of disaster. I think Jb has done an excellent job of assembling a good defense team. He did what he could with the knowledge he had. So, if the Sa would like to get rid of Jb, who would be next? I mean if I were the Sa, I would stop all this financial inquiry and get my eye back on the ball, because no one and I mean no one is talking evidence these days. MOO

Bolded by me

If the secret info you are referring to are the letters that Casey wrote to another (or couple, who knows yet) inmate then they were not obtained illegally. Not sure how you are coming up with that. Casey is an inmate that is in protective custody and does not (or isn't supposed to) have access to other inmates. The letters were written while Casey is in jail, so the jail has the right to read those letters and do with them as they see fit.

 

[mikeysmommom]

I don't think Mr. Mason has gotten the reputation he enjoys by not knowing how to act in front of a jury or a judge. Hearings are very different than trials and attorneys behave differently for each. He knows what he is doing. Today is the first day I have worried about KC being found guilty. This guy is good and if anyone can get her acquitted it's him.

Acquitted! Only chance of that is if GOD APPEARS as a character witness for KC. She does need a great Lawyer but if there is not at least 1 magician nope not happening.Saying he took this case for fun:furious:Shows IMO to him it s a game and to Disrespect Caylee like this IMO is hideous.

 

[Muzikman]

MM...the defense and the judge have been discussed a lot on this thread...but not much mention of the State. What can you offer about their position/performance?

Well, this hearing wasn't theirs, really. Glad they got to question Baez and Andrea, but wish they would have thrown some more detailed questions at them.

And maybe asked about possible deals/offers that George and Cindy have in the works, that could pay for Casey's defense. My friend came up with that one. :dance:

So us Taxpayers don't have to. :banghead:

 

[Muzikman]

Waaaay late in this thread, and kinda OT, but since it was asked a few times much earlier in this thread - why was Secret Service involved?

I haven't seen or heard what was said or how it was mentioned, but a few quick thoughts:

USSS has a stellar ECSAP program - agents who do electronic crimes investigations, computer and cell phone forensic exams, etc. Usually people think of FBI for those, but in reality, some FBI offices hand off these electronic forensic exams to the USSS due to case backlog or needed expertise and software. They also could have become involved at the request of any other local or state LE agency.

Also, USSS handles a lot of document exams - authentication, handwriting exams, forensics on paper and ink used, etc.

They could have been brought in for a number of reasons. Everything from cell phone forensics, or computers...to authenticating the letters Casey has allegedly written to another inmate...or financial fraud, etc. Many more possibilities.

The SS did a cell phone exam on Casey's cell, trying to get more info out of it than the OCSO did.

They were not successful.

 

[notthatsmart]

Bolded by me

If the secret info you are referring to are the letters that Casey wrote to another (or couple, who knows yet) inmate then they were not obtained illegally. Not sure how you are coming up with that. Casey is an inmate that is in protective custody and does not (or isn't supposed to) have access to other inmates. The letters were written while Casey is in jail, so the jail has the right to read those letters and do with them as they see fit.

Is it not illegal for officers to pass notes to inmates? Maybe I am mistaken. But if it is illegal, then none of this should come into court. Besides, they already admitted that the notes contained no confession. Jb has had them since Tuesday, he does not look worried one bit about them. The defense showed up in full force today. Those notes are just another distraction from the case. The Sa is grasping at straws. They need to release some discovery that shows what they have is credible. I hope something comes out next week.MOO

 

[mikeysmommom]

what did you want me to say to this man? i was not there as a news station, atty nor media. i happen to follow the case and live local . i was waiting in line to go in and a couple of reporters were also waiting. i did not hear them interview him . we were all just making small talk. when i was talking with cindy he stood near . when i said i hope it all works out he said yes, others are looking into things. i am not going to make up a story for you. i was nice enough to disclose i was there, i gave up my privacy of what i was wearing. perhaps this is not enough for you - there is always seats in court room if you care to come. if i heard any conversation he had with anyone else it was not between him and i. besides i did not !

I was so very happy with your post.I wish I was there as well.

 

[Brattigirle]

Has anyone read the latest up in Today's News?
ABC says the picture deal was brokered BY BAEZ, not Casey.

"I asked ABC News if the deal was done with Casey Anthony.

The deal was done with an attorney representing several owners of copyrighted content, ABC News spokeswoman Cathie Levine said. That attorney is Baez, she added."<snipped>

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/ent...y+%28TV+Guy%29

I saw that but other than lying under oath what does that mean to the case?

 

[mikeysmommom]

It says the investigation was turned over to investigators in February so I wonder :waitasec: if it is possible that Casey was the one who lead the investigators to Ms. River Cruz? That investigation, the knock on her door, also occurred in February, so it's just another one of those things that makes you go, huh? Maybe Casey KNEW about the affair? Is THAT in the realm of possibility...???

Their story REEKS of the defense being behind it.Maybe before she was arrested KC set it up.Maybe George had some pics Cindy took and KC stole one.

 

[logicalgirl]

Back in the thread a bit people were talking about Baez paying PI's. And we know he didn't pay D.Casey.

Does that mean Baez was the one footing the bill for Mort and his travels?

 

[magic-cat]

did he actually say this????????:furious:

Yep!

Ok I had company so I missed what happened after the hearing. Did the new atty really say he joined this case for FUN????

sure did.

But she also said..."minus the $22,500" from that. I think taking 22.5K from 70K is more feasible then taking 22.5K from 7K....JMO

Andrea Lyons said her clinic raise 70,000 dollars...not 7,000...she said minus the twenty two five off of that figure, meaning, they recouped that amount of the seventy.

 

[Brattigirle]

See, he says the deal was done "through my client" but ABC says it was done through Baez, that he was the attorney that brokered the deal. That should get him perjury if that is the truth! He is completely unethical!

He will probably get away with it. :banghead:

 

[magic-cat]

I saw that but other than lying under oath what does that mean to the case?

It means he perjured himself.
It means he is in jeopardy of being brought up on ethics charges.
It perhaps explains why Judge Strickland filed a bar complaint against him...