Before everyone runs off - here are some cases coming up this week:
Monday, Sept. 25th:
*Trial begins - TX - Leiliana Wright (4) (Mar. 13, 2016) - Charles Phifer (34), BF on trial; Jeri Quezada (30), "Mom" will testify at BF trial and be sentenced to 50 years after trial.
*Arraignment Hearing 9am ET - NC - Lauren Ashley-Nicole Phelps (29) (Aug. 1, 2017) - Matthew James Phelps (28) (husband)/Arrest hearing on 9/5 - charged with 1st degree murder, no bond/said he stabbed wife in his sleep.
Tuesday, Sept. 26th:
*Pretrial Hearing @ 8:30am PT - CA - Gabriel Fernandez (8) (May 22, 2013) - Isauro Aguiree (32), BF of Pearl Fernandez (29); trial to start 10/16// ("mom") accused of 1st degree murder/DA seeks DP/"mom" court date set for mid November, no actual "date" set.
*Court Hearing - WA - arrested for 2 counts possession of depiction of minors engaged in sexual expicit conduct & found Manifesto detailing child rape & homocide - Thomas D. (80): pled not guilty, being held on $500,000 bail. (Along with his 2 bros: Edwin H. Emery (78): in medical center (under guard) arraignment hearing was Sept. 5th on no plea was entered & Charles (82): was sent for a competency eval on 8/31, w/status hearing on 9/21.
*SDT Hearing @ 8:30am PT - CA - McStay Family: Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4) & Joey Jr (3) (Feb. 4, 2010) - Charles "Chase" Merritt (57/now 64) accused of 4 counts of murder. (Pretrial Motions hearing 10/30; Trial Readiness Hearing 11/9; Jury Selection & Trial begins Nov. 13)
9/22 Update: a Status Conf Issue-Summons on 10/30 @ 8:30a PT
Wednesday, Sept. 27th:
*Motion Hearing @ 1:30pm CT - IL - Joseph Henry Abernathy III (1) (Dec. 20, 1972) - beaten to death in 1972 - Gary Warwick (21 at time of crime/now 66) accused of 1st degree murder @ 1:30pm Central time.
*Pretrial Hearing - OH - A few hours old baby girl (May 2017) - Brooke 'Skylar' Richardson (18) accused/indicted on multiple felony charges including aggravated murder (special felony) involuntary manslaughter (1st degree felony), endangerment of child (3rd degree felony), tampering w/evidence (3rd degree felony), & gross abuse of corpse (5th degree felony)/allegedly killing, burning & burying her newborn baby in backyard of her Carlisle home. (Pretrial hearings set for 10/3, trial 11/6)
*Prelim Hearing - MO - Savannah Leckie (16) (July 19, 2017) - Robert Pearl, Jr. (31) (BF) indicted on 1st & 2nd degree murder, abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with evidence & abandonment of corpse. (Rebecca Ruud (39), "mother" arrested/charged with 1st & 2nd degree murder, abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with evidence & abandonment of corpse/her next court date 10/5.
Thursday, Sept. 28th:
*Prelim Hearing @ 1:30pm CT - ND - Savanna Marie LaFontaine-Greywind (22) (Aug. 19, 2017) - Brooke Lynn Crews (38) & William Henry Hoehn (32) charged with Conspiracy to commit murder (Class AA Felony), conspiracy to commit kidnapping (Class A Felony) & giving false info to LE (Class a Misdom)/$2 million cash bond. William's next date Oct. 4th @ 9am CT/9-6 update: Judge seals all search warrants & court docs until verdict reached.
*Sentencing (was delayed from 9/14/17) & Motion for New Trial Hearing @ 9am PT - CA - Sierra LaMar (15) (Mar. 16, 2012) - Antolin Garcia-Torres (26) found guilty-expected sentence - LWOP
from 9-14-17 date: The sentencing hearing for the man convicted of killing missing teen Sierra LaMar was abruptly postponed Thursday after defense attorneys moved to disqualify the judge for failing to disclose a potentially significant conflict of interest, which they claim is grounds for a new trial in the capital case.
The defense learned Wednesday after working with Judge Vanessa A. Zecher for more than a year that she had once represented the prosecution’s lead investigator, Sheriff’s Sgt. Herman Leon, whose integrity has become a major issue in the Sierra trial and in another recent murder case. According to multiple sources, the judge said she did not recall representing Leon until defense attorneys brought up the issue as grounds for disqualifying her from sentencing him Friday, and for a new trial.
The motion for disqualification is set to be heard in late October, most likely by a judge from outside the county. Santa Clara County court site says hearing today.
**Update 9/16: A judge from outside the county will most likely hear the motion for disqualification, but no date has been set yet. In the meantime, Zecher postponed the sentencing hearing until Sept. 28. However, it could once again be delayed if the disqualification issue has not been resolved.
**Another article says: "The sentencing was scheduled for Friday but pushed back after the 170.3 complaint was filed Thursday. Rada said a decision on the 170.3 complaint will be made during arguments all day Sept. 28 and in the morning of Sept. 29 in the morning."
Friday, Sept. 29th:
*Status Hearing - DC - Pamela Butler (47) (Feb. 12, 2009) - Jose Rodriguez-Cruz (47) BF, accused of 1st degree murder/deceased-not found
*170.3 Complaint Hearing (to remove Judge) / Sentencing delayed from 9/14/17 - CA - Sierra LaMar (15) (Mar. 16, 2012) - Antolin Garcia-Torres (26) found guilty-expected sentence - LWOP
from 9-14-17 date: The sentencing hearing for the man convicted of killing missing teen Sierra LaMar was abruptly postponed Thursday after defense attorneys moved to disqualify the judge for failing to disclose a potentially significant conflict of interest, which they claim is grounds for a new trial in the capital case.
The defense learned Wednesday after working with Judge Vanessa A. Zecher for more than a year that she had once represented the prosecution’s lead investigator, Sheriff’s Sgt. Herman Leon, whose integrity has become a major issue in the Sierra trial and in another recent murder case. According to multiple sources, the judge said she did not recall representing Leon until defense attorneys brought up the issue as grounds for disqualifying her from sentencing him Friday, and for a new trial.
The motion for disqualification is set to be heard in late October, most likely by a judge from outside the county. Santa Clara County court site says hearing today.
**Update 9/16: A judge from outside the county will most likely hear the motion for disqualification, but no date has been set yet. In the meantime, Zecher postponed the sentencing hearing until Sept. 28. However, it could once again be delayed if the disqualification issue has not been resolved.
**Another article says: "The sentencing was scheduled for Friday but pushed back after the 170.3 complaint was filed Thursday. Rada said a decision on the 170.3 complaint will be made during arguments all day Sept. 28 and in the morning of Sept. 29 in the morning."
