A Texarkana, Ark., man accused of shooting his former girlfriend last year told a Miller County judge Tuesday that he wants to fire his lawyer.
Judge Jones asked Curtis Jones if he intends to hire another private attorney to defend him against a bevy of charges stemming from the Jan. 15, 2015, shooting of a woman with whom he was once romantically involved. Curtis Jones said he wants a public defender appointed to his case.
"You're putting this court in a difficult spot," Judge Jones said. "Your case has been pending since January 2015 and we're set to pick a jury in this courtroom Sept. 26. Mr. Blair is a member of the bar in good standing. He's more than capable of handling this type of case."
Judge Jones asked Curtis Jones and Blair if the dispute between them could be resolved.
"Your honor I'm willing to go forward. This is 100 percent at his request," Blair said. "I have the right to make some strategic decisions and in telling him what I intend to do, he disagrees with me."
Curtis Jones agreed with Blair's assessment of the issue. Blair said the issue between he and Curtis Jones had nothing to do with money. Curtis Jones said he has paid Blair part, but not all, of his fee.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Black asked the court to evaluate whether Curtis Jones qualifies for a free lawyer at state expense. Judge Jones called a short recess to call members of the public defender's office to the hearing. After reviewing Curtis Jones' current financial details, Judge Jones appointed Chief Managing Public Defender Jason Mitchell and Public Defender Matt Stephens to the case.
"This case is going to remain set for Sept. 26 as this court is of the opinion you had counsel more than capable of handling this case. The public defenders are more than capable as well, but you're putting them in a significant time crunch," Judge Jones said. "But I am not going to continue this case."
Curtis Jones has been in jail since the day after his former girlfriend was shot in January 2015. Since then, the alleged victim sued Curtis Jones for damages and was awarded a $200,000 default judgment.
Curtis Jones recently filed a request to have his home and Social Security payments exempt from being sold or garnished to satisfy the judgment. As a result, Judge Jones contacted Social Security to determine exactly what type of benefits Curtis Jones is receiving.
"They were not aware that you were incarcerated," Judge Jones said.
Judge Jones told Curtis Jones that the Social Security office would be temporarily suspending benefits because of his status as an inmate. Curtis Jones signed a document in court Tuesday which gives the Social Security office permission to discuss the details of his case and federal benefits with the court.
Jones faces a charge of attempted murder, four counts of terroristic act, four counts of aggravated assault on a family or household member, a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon and a charge of solicitation of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Jones is also charged with residential burglary for allegedly breaking into his former girlfriend's home Dec. 29, 2014.
Black said a charge of terroristic act was filed for each of the shots Jones allegedly fired. The solicitation charge involves Jones' alleged attempt to get another person to provide a false alibi.
At a hearing May 31, Black said the state will ask the jury to decide whether Jones is guilty of all the charges related to the shooting except for the firearm charge. Black said the state has severed that charge from the others. The residential burglary case will be tried separately as well, Black said.
Bail on the 11 charges related to the shooting is $10 million. Jones was free on a $25,000 bond set in the residential burglary case when he was arrested in the shooting case. At an initial court appearance in mid-January 2015, about a week before the shooting, Jones was ordered to have no contact with his former girlfriend.
The woman told investigators she pulled into her garage at about 8 p.m. the evening of the shooting and was approached by a mask man whose voice she recognized as Curtis Jones'. As she attempted to drive away, four shots were fired, one of which struck the woman in the leg.
Attempted murder is punishable by six to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000. For using a gun during the offense, Jones could receive an additional 15 years, which he must serve consecutively to any time ordered for attempted murder.
One of the counts of terroristic act is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life. This charge concerns the bullet that struck the alleged victim. Jones faces the possibility of a 15-year firearm enhancement on this charge. Each of three other counts of terroristic act is punishable by five to 20 years and a fine up to $15,000. The 15-year firearm enhancement is possible on each of these charges. Four counts of aggravated assault are each punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The firearm enhancement is possible on each of these counts as well.