HONOLULU — A status conference Monday in U.S. Circuit Court resulted in an order for outside legal counsel for an accused Lihu‘e bank robber. The hearing was scheduled just two days prior to what would have been a mental competency
HONOLULU — A status conference Monday in U.S. Circuit Court resulted in an order for outside legal counsel for an accused Lihu‘e bank robber.
The hearing was scheduled just two days prior to what would have been a mental competency hearing for David Verden Williams Jr. Instead, Federal Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi granted his motion for a new defense attorney.
Williams, 35, of Sacramento, Calif., is charged with the Sept. 7, 2011, robbery of the American Savings Bank in Lihu‘e. The suspect reportedly pointed an unknown object at the teller from under his shirt and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Thomas Muehleck represented the prosecution on behalf of primary counsel William Shipley from the Office of the United States Attorney.
Federal Public Defender Alexander Silvert represented Verden Williams on behalf of primary counsel Shanlyn Park. The defendant was present and in custody.
According to court minutes, a discussion was held and the court granted the defendant’s oral request for outside counsel. The court will now appoint a new counsel under provisions of the Criminal Justice Act.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an accused the right to representation by counsel. Under the Criminal Justice Act the federal judiciary may appoint counsel in federal criminal proceedings for defendants it deems cannot pay the cost of representation.
On Feb. 1, a hearing was held to terminate any future hearings on the current indictment.
Federal Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren presided for the status conference. Williams appeared before U.S. District Court of Honolulu Judge Kurren Thursday to be remanded into the custody of the United States Marshall Service.
Williams continues to be held at a federal detention facility on O‘ahu while awaiting trial. His competency hearing was continued as motions to represent himself and another for replacement counsel moved forward.
