Reese lawyers respond to government motion against joint representation

Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 16 May, 2013 | David Codrea

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The court must be wary of “manufactured” government arguments masking its own “impropriety,” as well as mindful of attempts to “drive a wedge” between defendants and “impos[e] unnecessary financial burdens,” lawyers for the Reese family of gun dealers cautioned in a joint response in opposition to the government’s opposed motion for ruling on joint representation filed Tuesday in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Jailed for allegedly knowingly selling guns to cartel members, all family members were found not guilty on the most serious charges of conspiracy, and money laundering charges against them were dismissed. Husband Rick, wife Terri and son Ryin were convicted on a handful of lesser charges of making false statements on forms, basically under the presumption that they should have know federal agents were lying. Rick and Ryin were released on bond in February and Terri was released on bond last year. Son Remington was cleared of all charges, and a new trial for the outstanding convictions has been ordered following the judge’s ruling that the prosecutor withheld evidence from the jury.

Yesterday’s action follows a motion filed Monday in the District Court of the United States for the District Of New Mexico asking that court “to enter an order authorizing the release of a portion of their seized assets to pay for upcoming legal expenses as well as to provide life subsistence.”

Tuesday’s filing with the appeals court is in response to a May 1 motion by the prosecution that cites a “potential conflict of interest” and opposes allowing the family to share counsel of their choosing as their case proceeds. While the District Court had ordered them to retain separate counsel in their first trial, defense lawyers argue that is not relevant on appeal.

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I shudder to think how many families are railroaded into bankruptcy and prison when they take plea bargains and are never become known to the population at large.