Griffith awaits new attorney
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
March 13, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/griffith-awaits-new-attorney/article_371c9402-5adc-11e7-80ab-10604b9f0f42.html
Keith Griffith — a Reidland man accused of killing his wife and burning their home with her and their pets inside — made a brief appearance in court Thursday morning for a pretrial hearing.
During the session, defense attorneys Mark Bryant and Emily Roark presented their motion to withdraw to Circuit Judge Tim Kaltenbach.
"The judge ruled we are no longer counsel for Keith Griffith," Bryant said.
The defense's motion to withdraw was filed Feb. 26 in which Bryant and Roark cited the needs of their other clients and Griffith's financial restraints as reasons for their withdrawal.
Also addressed was Griffith's need for new counsel.
Kaltenbach assigned the case to the public defenders office in Paducah, but it has not been decided which attorney will take the case.
"The issue with the attorney is what specific attorney by name is going to be the lead attorney and what specific attorney by name will be the second chair," said Chris McNeill, the directing attorney with the public defenders office. "Our agency is looking at all our options, including the assignment of a lawyer from the Capital Trial Branch in Frankfort."
The Capital Trial Branch focuses solely on death penalty cases.
McNeill also filed a motion to reduce Griffith's bond. Griffith is jailed on a $1 million bond. McNeill is asking the bond be reduced to 10 percent or property.
"Bond can be posted in two different forms," he said. "To ask for 10 percent cash or property means 10 percent, which means $100,000 cash can be posted, or property, which would be double that amount, meaning $200,000 worth of property."
McNeill explained if someone had $200,000 worth of property that was "free and clear" they could post that as bond to get Griffith out of jail.
Commonwealth Attorney Dan Boaz said his office will file a response to McNeill's motion opposing the bond reduction.
The motion will be presented to Kaltenbach during "motion hour" on March 20. Then, the judge will set a date to hear the motion and render his decision.
Also addressed was the issue of Griffith's house.
County Attorney Sam Clymer filed a motion March 2 asking the judge to allow the Griffith house to be torn down.
The burnt remnants of the house has been a bone of contention since summer when the County Attorney's Office and the McCracken Fiscal Court filed motions to have the structure demolished, calling it a hazard and a reminder of what occurred there.
Kaltenbach ruled against Clymer's motion, saying the house would remain standing until the lawyers assigned to defend Griffith were caught up on the case.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
During the session, defense attorneys Mark Bryant and Emily Roark presented their motion to withdraw to Circuit Judge Tim Kaltenbach.
"The judge ruled we are no longer counsel for Keith Griffith," Bryant said.
The defense's motion to withdraw was filed Feb. 26 in which Bryant and Roark cited the needs of their other clients and Griffith's financial restraints as reasons for their withdrawal.
Also addressed was Griffith's need for new counsel.
Kaltenbach assigned the case to the public defenders office in Paducah, but it has not been decided which attorney will take the case.
"The issue with the attorney is what specific attorney by name is going to be the lead attorney and what specific attorney by name will be the second chair," said Chris McNeill, the directing attorney with the public defenders office. "Our agency is looking at all our options, including the assignment of a lawyer from the Capital Trial Branch in Frankfort."
The Capital Trial Branch focuses solely on death penalty cases.
McNeill also filed a motion to reduce Griffith's bond. Griffith is jailed on a $1 million bond. McNeill is asking the bond be reduced to 10 percent or property.
"Bond can be posted in two different forms," he said. "To ask for 10 percent cash or property means 10 percent, which means $100,000 cash can be posted, or property, which would be double that amount, meaning $200,000 worth of property."
McNeill explained if someone had $200,000 worth of property that was "free and clear" they could post that as bond to get Griffith out of jail.
Commonwealth Attorney Dan Boaz said his office will file a response to McNeill's motion opposing the bond reduction.
The motion will be presented to Kaltenbach during "motion hour" on March 20. Then, the judge will set a date to hear the motion and render his decision.
Also addressed was the issue of Griffith's house.
County Attorney Sam Clymer filed a motion March 2 asking the judge to allow the Griffith house to be torn down.
The burnt remnants of the house has been a bone of contention since summer when the County Attorney's Office and the McCracken Fiscal Court filed motions to have the structure demolished, calling it a hazard and a reminder of what occurred there.
Kaltenbach ruled against Clymer's motion, saying the house would remain standing until the lawyers assigned to defend Griffith were caught up on the case.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
