Shawnte Hardin Accused of Running Unlicensed Funeral Business
Shawnte Hardin, a man from Toledo, Ohio, has been charged with running an unlicensed funeral business and abusing bodies. Hardin waived his right to have a trial by jury and will instead appear in front of a judge for a bench trial.
The list of charges against Hardin include:
- One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony.
- Three counts of tampering with records, third-degree felonies.
- One count of theft, a fourth-degree felony.
- Eight counts of abuse of a corpse, all fifth-degree felonies.
- Five counts of failure to file taxes, all fifth-degree felonies.
- Five counts of passing bad checks, all fifth-degree felonies.
- Two counts of identity fraud, both fifth-degree felonies.
- Two counts of telecommunications fraud, both fifth-degree felonies.
- Six counts of representation as a funeral director while unlicensed, two unclassified felonies and four unclassified misdemeanors.
- Single counts of fifth-degree felony criminal tools and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
- One count of operating an unlicensed funeral home, an unclassified felony.
- One count of failure to refrigerate a human body, an unclassified misdemeanor.
Denver Criminal Defense attorney, Jeffrey Wolf, joins CourtTV to discuss the opening statements of this trial. “I was a little concerned he couldn’t remember the name of his witnesses, he kept saying there’s a person who’s going to say this, a person said that… he kept using pronouns and not using proper names…” The opening from the State seemed to drag on a bit too long, and with the ambiguous language being used it did not lend itself well to a strong opening statement. Check back for more updates on the case and more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf.
Eagle Scout Charged With Killing Mother & Father
Last week, Sabrina Sims, a detective from Dane County in Wisc., took the stand to review several emails addressed to Chandler Halderson. Twenty-three-year-old Halderson is on trial for murdering and dismembering his parents after his father found out that his son had been lying about going to school, where he worked, and future employment opportunities.
Dozens of emails were sited in which Chandler Halderson fabricated correspondences between himself and staff members from Madison Area Technical College.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeff Wolf discussed the state’s mounting evidence against Halderson and how it will likely portray his character at trial.
“The state is doing a really good job laying out all of the different lies…the motivations for those lies and what that reaction could have been the bigger they get,” explained Wolf. “Tuition is presumably being paid. Where is that money going? What’s happening? So many different areas of [Halderson’s] life were fabrications to his parents. You can see the overall manipulation that’s going on here and how that could lead to the type of blow up specific to the allegations in this case.”
Halderson is charged with first degree intentional homicide, mutilating and hiding corpses, and giving false information to authorities.
Watch the videos above for details about this grizzly case and for more commentary from defense lawyer Jeff Wolf.
Chandler Halderson Charged with Murdering and Dismembering Parents
A 23-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with first degree intentional homicide, mutilating and hiding corpses, and giving false information to authorities regarding the July deaths of his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson.
During opening statements last week, Chandler Halderson’s defense lawyer claimed he was just a normal kid who likes video games and didn’t kill his parents. Meanwhile, prosecutors allege that Halderson committed the crimes after his parents discovered his lies about having a good job and attending college.
Halderson reported his parents missing on July 7 when they did not come home from a weekend getaway to Northern Wisconsin. The next day, Bart Halderson’s remains were recovered in rural Dane County; Chandler Halderson was arrested later that day. About a week later, Krista Halderson’s remains were discovered along the Wisconsin River in Saul County.
Dozens of emails have been recovered in which Chandler Halderson fabricated correspondences between himself and Madison Area Technical College where he told his parents he was a student.
Upon finding these emails, prosecutors allege there was confrontation between Chandler and his father, which resulted in Bart Halderson being shot in the back.
In a recent Court TV interview with Julie Grant, Denver defense lawyer Jeff Wolf discussed the careful approach of the defense.
“It’s hard to know what the best approach is just by watching the trial. Because there’s so much that goes into it,” explained Wolf. “There’s meetings with the client, there’s evidence that maybe isn’t going to the jury. There’s evidence that hasn’t been presented yet; questions that haven’t been asked. As of right now, what we’re seeing is something that you often have to do in a case with a bunch of witnesses. You have to be surgical about the questions you ask because the jury is waiting with bated breath for everything the defense does in response…they’re testifying about a gruesome amount of violence depicted on a body, but if your client didn’t do that, what questions do you have to ask about that body? None.”
Watch the videos above for details about this case and for more Court TV commentary from Jeff Wolf.
Potter’s Defense Calls Expert to Explain How an ‘Action Error’ May Have Led to Fatal Shooting
Kim Potter, former Brooklyn Center police officer, is on trial for the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright. Potter claims she intended to use her Taser when she instead fired her handgun on Wright during a traffic stop.
Last week, psychologist Dr. Laurence Miller testified for the defense describing how ‘action errors’ play a role in daily mistakes.
“In an action error, there is a sequence of responses in which an intended action has an unintended effect … [it] does not have to do with outside interference, willful neglect or conscious manipulation,” Miller said.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeffrey Wolf discussed the use of expert witnesses and how unique it is to see someone like Miller testifying on behalf of the defense.
“This is a very rare case where this type of expert testimony is coming from the defense,” explained Wolf. “These experts have been around for decades, but law enforcement is usually on the other side. The prosecution has been banging the drum for experts like this guy for decades. And it just so happens that there’s a sea change in the country, and now these experts find themselves on the defense side. Yes, I am a defense attorney, but I am as angry at these experts testifying for the defense as I have been for them testifying for the prosecution my entire career. Because I know they’re junk science, they know they’re junk science, law enforcement knows they’re junk science, and quite frankly, the judge knows they’re junk science too, but everybody’s afraid to say it…”
Watch the video for details about the defense’s expert testimony and for more commentary from Court TV correspondent Jeff Wolf.
Jury Finds Jussie Smollett Guilty Of Lying to Police Over Staged Hate Crime
More than three years after the alleged racist and homophobic attack against him, Jussie Smollett took the stand in a Chicago Courtroom last week to defend his innocence. The former “Empire” actor faced six counts of disorderly conduct.
Witnesses for the prosecution included brothers who testified that Smollett had paid them to stage the attack, which included scripted lines and a specific location to ensure the attack was recorded by a surveillance camera. Prosecutors also pointed out that Smollett’s refusal to turn over important evidence to the police, including his cellphone and DNA samples, only added suspicion to Smollett’s story.
During his testimony, Smollett offered little to his defense but reiterated that “there was no hoax.” He was unable to identify his attackers.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discussed Smollett’s decision to take the stand.
“He’s an actor, so he should have come across well on the stand,” said Wolf. “But at the end of the day, there’s such a mountain of evidence and such a bad public sentiment…to have somebody so blatantly…potentially fake an incident like that to gain clout, to gain followers is morally reprehensible. He didn’t have much of a story to tell on the stand other than it happened and you must believe. It’s a really weird case. At some point, it’s hard to back down when a lie is so big, but he might have done himself well by doing just that.”
Last Thursday, the jury convicted Smollett of five counts of disorderly conduct after less than nine hours of deliberation. Charges are specific to each time Smollett lied to police in the days after the alleged attack.
Watch the video for details about this case and for more commentary from Denver defense lawyer Jeff Wolf.
Lynlee Renick Convicted of Killing Snake-Breeder Husband After Taking the Stand
Lynlee Renick has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her husband, Ben Renick, a well-known snake breeder from Montgomery County in Missouri.
Prosecutors alleged that Renick conspired with a friend and ex-boyfriend to murder her husband in 2017. Renick was the sole beneficiary of a life-insurance policy for her husband worth $1 million. It was alleged that Renick feared losing custody of her children if she and her husband were to get a divorce.
While it’s uncommon for criminal defendants to take the stand, especially in a murder trial, Renick appeared in court last Wednesday eager to tell her side of the story. During her testimony, Renick acknowledged that she did lie about what had happened but that her marriage had recently become physically and emotionally abusive.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeffrey Wolf discussed the basics of preparing a client for the difficulties of cross examination.
“The decision is always going to rest with the defendant,” explained Wolf. “As far as preparing, there isn’t a lot you can do to prepare. The best thing you can do is find the meanest lawyer you know to come in and…play the prosecutor. So you do a mock direct and a mock cross, and you just let the lawyer beat up your client as hard as you think the prosecutor’s going to. You see how your client is going to respond, give tips on the emotion…give tips on how to respond, how not to respond—you don’t script what they’re saying but you script how they respond, what the emotional responses are…their body language…because juries are paying as much attention to that as the words that are coming out your mouth.”
The jury deliberated for about 12 hours before returning a guilty verdict the following day. The jury recommended that Renick serve no more than 13 years for second-degree murder and three years for armed criminal action. A hearing in January will finalize the sentences.
Watch the video for details about this case and for more commentary from Denver defense lawyer Jeff Wolf.
Jury Selection Begins For Daunte Wright Trial Amid Community Tension
About 10 miles from where Derek Chauvin was on trial in the killing of George Floyd, Kim Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright, 20, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, in April this year. The criminal complaint against Potter alleges she acted “recklessly” or with “culpable negligence.”
Potter and her attorneys claim that she believed she was holding her taser when Wright resisted arrest. Video evidence would appear to support her claim, as Potter can be seen pointing a handgun at him and shouting “taser.”
Nevertheless, the 26-year police veteran made a fatal mistake that would end the life of young father in mere moments. Potter is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter and faces up to 15 years in prison.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeffrey Wolf discussed the climate of the community as the jury selection process begins.
“This is a state where they just saw a murder conviction in the case of the George Floyd murder,” said Wolf. “This is a state that is standing up and saying no more. To say that an officer gets to make a mistake and somebody dies is beyond the pale in my opinion. I think this officer’s fatal mistake is one she should have to pay for…I think this is someone with over 20 years of experience as a police officer that can’t tell the difference between a taser and a firearm, which are completely different weights, look completely different, feel completely different and actually hang on opposite hips. If you can’t get that right after 20-plus years, you’ve committed a crime.”
Community tension over the looming trial is palpable in the courtroom, as potential jurors raise concerns over safety.
One potential juror expressed worry that his identity would become public, putting himself and his family in potential danger, should the outcome of the widely-publicized trial provoke national outrage.
In another instance, a potential juror provided identifying information (e.g., where he works, the name of his band) during televised questioning. Should this juror be excused if his identity is already compromised?
“The court has an order in place to protect the identity of the jurors—that has obviously been run afoul of,” explained Wolf. “The other thing that could come out of this is what this fear could do to [the juror] during the trial. Is he less likely to return a verdict one way or another based on which side of the verdict he would fear running afoul of as well? Balancing those two things is what the court is going to have to decide here…”
Watch the entire video to learn more about the jury selection process and for more commentary from defense attorney Jeff Wolf.
Judge to Hear Arguments Over Alex Murdaugh’s Assets
Gloria Satterfield died in 2018 after an alleged trip-and-fall accident in Alex Murdaugh’s home. Alex Murdaugh is a prominent South Carolina lawyer with longstanding family ties to the community.
Attorneys for the estate of Satterfield filed a lawsuit against Murdaugh alleging her heirs had not received life insurance settlement money they were owed after her death.
Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, the lawyers representing Satterfield’s family, claim Murdaugh schemed to steal the insurance money by persuading Satterfield’s sons to sue him for her wrongful death. Murdaugh allegedly promised Satterfield’s sons they would be well paid and recruited a close friend, Cory Fleming, to represent the son’s interest.
Three years later, Satterfield’s sons hadn’t seen any of $4.3 million in total settlement payouts.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense attorney Jeffrey Wolf discussed the bizarre and complex nature of the case—one that involves a well-known legal figure.
“It’s a drama playing out in real time. It’s the rich and the powerful; it’s a soap opera,” said Wolf. “This is a stain on attorneys—this is why attorneys have the reputation that we have…these are the stories people think of. They think of the attorney always trying to get one over on the court…and this guy is the worst example of it.”
Watch the video for more commentary from Jeff Wolf and to hear from one of the attorneys representing the estate of Gloria Satterfield.
Keith Johansen Sentenced to Life in Prison For Murdering Wife
A jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Keith Johansen guilty of shooting his wife on April 7, 1018. Johansen, 39, will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Johansen initially claimed his wife had accidentally shot herself in their home located in Palm Coast, Florida. As the investigation unfolded, Johansen would go on to change his story several times over. At one point, he even accused their 6-year-old son of accidentally firing the gun. At trial, Johansen admitted to shooting his wife, but claimed he did so in self-defense.
While it’s unusual to see murder defendants on the stand, it was particularly unusual in this case, as Johansen didn’t show emotion or grief about his wife’s murder throughout his testimony. He came off unsympathetic and made no eye contact with the jury.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense attorney Jeffrey Wolf discussed the significant gamble Johansen took by taking the stand.
“It’s ultimately up to the defendant. The attorney can only give advice,” explained Wolf. “But oftentimes there are disagreements… And when there is, what the defendant says goes…”
Watch the video above for more commentary from Jeff Wolf and for details about this case.
Day Nine of Jury Selection Underway for Ahmaud Arbery Murder Case
Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed while running through a Georgia neighborhood in February 2020. Gregory and Travis McMichael were arrested along with a neighbor, William Bryan, who filmed the confrontation.
As jury selection continues this week, potential jurors are allowed to watch the news, observe protests and demonstrations that continue outside the Glynn County courtroom. When given the opportunity to change the location of the trial, defense attorneys decided against it.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeffrey Wolf discussed the possible motivation behind the defense’s decision.
“They’ve been very confident about what they’re going to get out of Glynn County jurors…” explained Wolf. “It’s a small southern county trying a white man for a black man’s murder. They think they’re going to get better jurors out of Glynn County than they would out of, say…Cobb County near Atlanta…a more urban center, a more liberal center. What they’re doing is taking their only shot, which is to bet that in 2021 a white man gets a walk in a southern rural county.”
Watch the video above for more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf and for details about the jury selection process.
Larry Millete Arrested For Wife’s Murder in San Diego
On Jan. 7, 2021, Maya Millete contacted a divorce lawyer to begin the separation process with her husband, Larry Millete. Investigators believe that Larry killed Maya later that evening. Nine months after her disappearance, Larry Millete was arrested for his wife’s murder in their Chula Vista home.
While Maya’s family insisted that her sudden absence was highly suspect, Larry Millete alleged that Maya had selfishly abandoned him and their three school-aged children.
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan believes the evidence against Millete is enough to move forward, though the victim’s body has yet to be recovered. California law allows for the filing of murder changes even without the victim’s body.
An arrest warrant affidavit filed last week states that Millete sent hundreds of emails to ‘psychics’ and ‘spirit channelers’ in an attempt to hex or injure his wife.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeffrey Wolf discussed the unusual nature of the evidence and the pervasiveness of murder cases involving domestic violence.
“What a tragedy…” said Wolf. “We’re starting to see a lot more of these domestic violence, disappearance cases…and what seems like such a ‘how could they even charge this person—they don’t even have a body’…all of a sudden you show up at trial and you get the answers…all of sudden the trial starts and you get forensic evidence that’s backing up what’s in that affidavit that’s made public.”Watch the video for details about this case and for more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf.
Jury Selection Begins for the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery
In the afternoon on Feb. 23, 2020, a black man named Ahmaud Arbery, 25, went for a jog in Brunswick, Georgia, a coastal community about five hours south of Atlanta. Upon entering a neighborhood called Satilla Shores, a white resident named Gregory McMichael incorrectly identified Arbery as a suspect in a string of alleged local break-ins.
Gregory and his son, Travis McMichael, then armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck. Gregory and Travis allege that they called out to Arbery and asked him to stop so they could speak with him. When Arbery resisted the confrontation, a fight broke out and three shots were fired. The autopsy report showed that Arbery had two gunshot wounds in his chest. Arbery was unarmed.
More than two months later, Gregory and Travis McMichael were arrested along with a neighbor, William Bryan, who filmed the entirety of the confrontation from behind the McMichael’s truck.
The three men each face nine charges including murder and aggravated assault. They have pleaded not guilty.
Jury selection began last week, presenting unique challenges for the prosecution. Despite the horrific video evidence, for example, the defense is likely to use the video to appeal to biased jurors.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer Jeffrey Wolf discussed the challenges of jury selection in a case that seems purely motivated by racial prejudice.
“With jury selection, the difficulties that they’re facing is that the state is obviously dealing with a biased jury pool,” explained Wolf. “This is the Deep South…we know the makeup of the town and the racial divides that exist, still, in this country. The prosecution is looking for people who are going to be open and fair, who are going to give the victim, in this case a black man, the same rights that they’d give the white defendants.”
Watch the entire video for a deeper look into this case and more commentary from Jeff Wolf.
Man Accused of Killing Nine Neighbors By Setting Fires
Stanley Ford, 62, of Akron, Ohio, is accused of nine arson deaths. Ford is accused of more murders than anyone in Summit County history, including the deaths of seven family members killed in a house fire in May of 2017.
In June 2020, a judge declared a mistrial after jurors were excused over concerns of COVID-19. Stanley now faces a new trial, despite having maintained his innocence for several years. If convicted, Ford could face the death penalty.
Earlier this week, the lead case detective testified on the 2016 crimes, but her testimony was riddled with confusing behaviors like whistling and argumentative answers. In a recent Court TV interview, Denver defense attorney Jeff Wolf discussed the defense’s strategy against this key witness.
“I think the defense is doing an excellent job…” explained Wolf. “He’s laying out every time she walked away from a lead, and he’s showing a lack of familiarity with her own case. Obviously she’s retired, obviously it’s been a number of years, but she should have been ready for this…”
“This defense attorney is doing an excellent job with the law of escalating punishment,” Wolf continued, “where he was super polite at first and gave her an opportunity to review her report…and then when she was not able to find the things that she could seemingly be making up on the stand to explain why she didn’t follow up, he says: well let me help you out. It’s not in there! The Jury is now with him…and the jury doesn’t trust this witness anymore.”
Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeff Wolf or for more details about the case.
Chad Isaak Guilty on All Charges: Jeff Wolf Shares Extended Insight on Court TV
Last week, the trial of Chad Isaak came to a close after less than five hours of jury deliberations. Isaak has been found guilty on all charges for the gruesome killings of four people at a North Dakota property management firm two years ago.
The case has been described as one the most heinous crimes in that state’s history. More than 900 pieces of evidence were introduced during the three week trial. But despite compelling evidence, prosecutors were still unable to answer one of the most meaningful questions in this case: why?
Even without a clear motivation to commit these crimes, Chad Isaak, a chiropractor and Navy veteran, now faces life in prison without parole.
“Either the state has successfully stopped a serial killer or they’ve got the wrong guy,” explained Denver defense lawyer, Jeff Wolf, during a recent Court TV interview. “There’s no in-between in this case.”
Isaak now awaits sentencing, which will include an opportunity for victims and their families to speak in court.
“It’s incredibly important for victims of crimes,” Wolf continued. “It’s a moment of closure…now I get to look at the person convicted of murdering my loved one and say what I have to say. It’s an invaluable part of the process.”
Watch the extended video to learn more about the final moments of this case, plus, more commentary by Denver defense lawyer Jeff Wolf.
Jeff Wolf Reviews Defense Strategy in North Dakota Quadruple Murder on Court TV
Chad Isaak of Washburn, North Dakota, is on trial for the deaths of RJR Maintenance & Management co-owner Robert Fakler, and co-workers Adam Fuehrer and Bill and Lois Cobb.
According to defense attorney Bruce Quick, it was one of the most heinous crimes in North Dakota history. But Quick’s arguing that the case amounts to a rush to judgment based on bad information. His client, Chad Isaak, has plead not guilty to four counts of murder and three other counts.
Last week, Fakler’s widow took the stand to discuss details about the property management company and her close relationships with the deceased. As a key witness for the prosecution, she appeared extremely credible.
Quick has accused law enforcement of contaminating the crime scene and failing to investigate other potential suspects, including several people who have either been evicted or sued by RJR.
During cross examination of Mrs. Fakler, Quick will take aim at painting a different picture of the circumstances, including an affair Robert Fakler was having and numerous contentious relationships he and his wife had with disgruntled tenants.
In a recent appearance on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discussed how defense counsel may seek to push Mrs. Fakler over the edge.
“They appear to be pivoting to the business and the different people they came into contact with…after all, they manage a trailer park with hundreds of residents,” explained Wolf.
“The other thing you should never discount is a defense attorney’s ability to flip someone in a moment,” Wolf continued. “They are going to question her and hope that at some point she gets angry—it washes away the façade of a very sympathetic witness…don’t count him [Quick] out just yet.”
Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeff Wolf or for more details about the case.
Nathaniel Rowland Guilty of All Charges: Jeff Wolf Weighs in On Court TV
After less than then three hours of deliberation, a jury found Nathaniel Rowland guilty of all charges in the kidnapping and murder of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson. Quickly following the verdict, the judge passed down Rowland’s sentence: life in prison.
The judge was very vocal about his feelings toward the defendant. At one point, the judge even suggested that Rowland had “demons” inside of him that needed to be exorcised.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense lawyer and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discussed some of the unusual behaviors taking place in the courtroom last week.
“Maybe this is the defense lawyer in me coming out,” explained Wolf, “but it really makes my blood boil…instead of comforting the family, the Josephson family, to let them know that the justice system has worked, your daughter’s murderer is going to go away for life…instead of doing that…what does he do? He tells Nathanial Rowland that he has a depraved heart, that he has demons living inside of him…The need of a judge to do that is beyond me.”
Uncharacteristically, the jury remained in the courtroom following the verdict to listen to victim impact statements, which included comments from the defendant’s family.
“He [the judge] really let Mr. Rowland have it,” continued Wolf. “But he also let Mr. Rowland’s parents have it, which I thought was a little unusual. He interrupted the mom, he yelled at the mom, he told her she was not allowed to talk about how she thought her son was innocent…”Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeff Wolf or for more details about the case.
Lori Vallow-Daybell’s Request For Cell Phone Denied
Lori Vallow-Daybell has been incarcerated since March 2020 for felonies related to the deaths of her children: Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan. The children’s remains were found in Daybell’s new husband’s backyard.
Daybell’s attorney recently argued that his client should be allowed to have a cell phone, so that he can communicate with his incarcerated client without surveillance. He also requested that the video cameras in the attorney-client rooms be shut off during their private meetings.
Insisting that a cell phone would be too dangerous inside a jail, a district judge denied Daybell’s request.
In a recent interview, Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf noted that it’s been difficult for defense attorneys and clients to meet with each other during the pandemic, but inmates still have the right to privileged attorney-client meetings.
“He’s frustrated…he’s frustrated for the same reason that most defense attorneys with clients in custody right now are frustrated, he needs to see his client…and our access is very limited at a lot of these jails. Some of them will allow phone calls, but you’ll get them recorded, and if you believe the prosecutor didn’t listen to that phone call, I’ve got a beach in Idaho to sell you.”
Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeffrey Wolf; plus, details about the case.
Kueng Defense Alleges Prosecutorial Misconduct
Attorneys for three Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd’s death are asking a judge to dismiss the cases against their clients because of alleged misconduct by prosecutors.
Alexander Kueng’s attorney recently filed a motion accusing the state’s Attorney General of mishandling evidence and further alleges that prosecutors leaked news of a proposed plea deal by co-defendant Derek Chauvin to the media.
In a recent interview, Denver defense lawyer and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discusses this ambitious defense strategy.
“The reason they’re shooting for the moon is so they can try to grab stars on their way down,” explained Wolf. “But to personally ask that these prosecutors be referred to the Minnesota bar? I can’t think of a time when this has happened. This is the Hail Mary of Hail Marys and in one of the most high-profile cases this country has ever seen…they’re not going to get this dismissal.”
Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeffrey Wolf; plus, details about the case.
Lethal Bar Fight in Tennessee
Michael Mosley is accused of fatally stabbing two men outside the Dogwood Bar in Nashville, Tennessee.
Investigators allege that Mosley made an unwanted advancement toward a female friend of the victims, and an argument between the groups got physical. Mosley’s attorney says video evidence will prove his client acted in self-defense.
However, at the time of the killings, Mosley was free on a $5,000 bond after being arrested for aggravated assault—a brutal attack of a 37-year-old woman in a Walmart; the woman is allegedly connected to an ongoing murder investigation involving the death of Mosley’s sibling.
While few have seen the video evidence, this case begs the question: was it really self-defense?
“You do have a right to defend yourself,” explained Jeffrey Wolf, Denver defense lawyer and Court TV correspondent. “That doesn’t make this any less of a tragedy, but you do have a right to defend yourself, depending on the circumstances. And none of us know those circumstances until the video comes out.”
Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeffrey Wolf; plus, more details about the case.
Husband Faces Murder Trial Over Missing Wife
Would you go to work the day your spouse went missing? That’s what investigators are asking in a case involving Victoria Prokopovitz, who has been missing since 2013. Her body has never been found and she is believed to be dead.
James Prokopovitz reported his wife missing to the Sheriff’s Office, after he returned home from work that day. According to reports, Prokopovitz made no mention of his wife’s absences at work.
Prokopovitz told police it was likely a suicide because his wife suffered from depression, but family members say his behavior after her disappearance became highly suspicious.
“At the end of the day, a jury is going to sit there and try to put themselves in his shoes. They’re going to have a tough time saying: if my wife, who was ill, and was gone without her purse and personal effects…I think most people would have a hard time saying they’d go to work, especially if your boss gets on the stand and says he didn’t have to be there that day! His defense team has their work cut out for them.”
Watch the full video for extended commentary from Jeffrey Wolf; plus, more details about the case.
Woman Claims Husband Forced Her to Decapitate Lover
A New Hampshire couple has been charged in the death of Jonathan Amerault. Armando Barron allegedly killed Amerault after he discovered he was having an affair with his wife Britany Barron.
Armando Barron has been charged with capital murder while engaged in the commission of a kidnapping, and his wife, Britany Barron, has been charged with falsifying physical evidence.
Amerault’s body was driven 200 miles from the crime scene, decapitated, and left wrapped in a tarp in the North Woods.
At Britany Barron’s arraignment, her defense lawyer argued that anything she did was out of fear of her husband. Detectives who detained and interviewed Britany Barron saw bruising around her eyes and marks on her neck. Armando Barron is accused of beating his wife and then using her cell phone to lure Amerault to a park.
In a recent interview, Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf was asked the obvious and difficult question: Is Britany Barron a criminal or a victim?
“I see her as a victim…She was acting in duress,” explained Wolf. “This is not somebody who had a choice about what was going to happen. She likely would have been a second body next to her boyfriend’s if she hadn’t at least played along…”
Watch the full video for more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf; plus, more details about the case.
Former Deputy Sheriff Faces 44 Criminal Charges
Former Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff, Daniel Wilkey, allegedly performed an illegal body cavity search of James Myron Mitchell following a traffic stop in Tennessee. Wilkey has also been the subject of multiple lawsuits while e employed by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office that accuse him of misconduct ranging from including false imprisonment to child molestation.
In December 2019, the county district attorney filed 44 criminal charges against Wilkey. Wilkey and Hamilton County also face nine civil lawsuits, including one class action.
In June 2020, the Hamilton County DA’s office accused the sheriff’s office of slowing down the investigation. Court filings also indicate that several dash-cam videos involving Wilkey were lost in a “catastrophic failure” by computer servers.
In a recent interview, Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discussed how multiple charges and several alleged victims could impact Wilkey’s case.
“I don’t know that there’s a circumstance where it’s not going to shock the conscience of a jury to watch a police officer bend a man over on the side of the road and conduct a full body cavity search…the indignity of that, the cruelty of that…this case really shocks the conscience.”
Watch the full video for more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf; plus, more details about the case.
Gannon Stepmom Faces Murder Charges
On January 27, 2020, Letecia Stauch reported her stepson, 11-year-old Gannon Stauch, missing from his home in Colorado Springs, CO. Approximately two months later, the boy’s remains were found in Florida.
Evidence found within the residence and inside Gannon’s bedroom include blood spatter and blood stains that penetrated the concrete below the bed. Gannon’s stepmom was arrested for his murder in South Carolina on March 2. Police believe Stauch called the police to report Gannon’s absence the same day she committed the crime.
Letecia Stauch has caused several delays in court proceedings. Stauch claims her constitutional rights were violated by investigators; she also maintains that she is not component to stand trial. Earlier this month, Stauch was ruled competent to stand trial for a second time and proceedings are expected to continue in March.
In a recent interview, Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf speaks on strategy, when asked how a defense attorney might handle a client with several conflicting stories:
“You can’t ride two horses, right?” explained Wolf. “The DAs office is going to play up the inconsistent statements…but when you get in there, you’ve got to have a theme to your case, a story to tell, and you’ve got to stick with that one story…”
Watch the full video for more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf and for details about the case.
Megan Boswell Charged with Murdering ‘Baby Evelyn’
Nineteen-year-old Megan Boswell has been charged with murdering her 15-month-old daughter, Evelyn, and hiding the toddler’s body on a family member’s property in Tennessee.
Evelyn Boswell was last seen in December 2019 but wasn’t officially reported missing until mid-February 2020. Three months later, Evelyn’s body was found in a shed on property belonging to her grandmother’s ex-boyfriend.
Megan Boswell was arrested in February after giving conflicting information to detectives about her daughter’s whereabouts. Boswell now faces life in prison without parole following charges of felony murder, child abuse and neglect, and several counts of false reporting.
Boswell recently appeared in court to assert that she had “resolved issues” she was having with her representation and legal strategy. In a recent Court TV interview, Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf weighs in on the defendant’s behavior:
“She’s doing herself a very good service by being involved in her defense,” explained Wolf. “It’s something I wish more of my clients would do…because at the end of the day, this is this young women’s life…that’s what’s hanging in the balance…no one else’s.”
Watch the full video for more commentary from Jeffrey Wolf and for details about the case.
Pizza Delivery Murder
A complex and tragic case known as the “pizza delivery murder” recently came to a close after a jury found defendant Erica Stefanko guilty on one count of aggravated murder for the killing of Ashley Briggs. Stefanko was found not guilty on three other changes.
Prosecutors alleged Stefanko set the plot in motion in 2012, when she called Domino’s and ordered a pizza delivered to a closed business, knowing Biggs would be the delivery driver. Biggs was beaten and strangled to death by Chad Cobb when she reached her delivery’s destination.
Biggs was the mother of Stefanko’s stepdaughter, who was 7 at the time of the murder. Chad Cobb, the child’s father, has been in prison since 2013 after pleading guilty to the murder of Briggs.
Stefanko was tracked for several years following the initial murder investigation. A recently monitored phone call between Stefanko and Cobb’s mother helped break the case.
During the trial, Stefanko appeared undecided as to whether or not she would take the stand. It was obvious Stefanko’s defense lawyer didn’t want to make that play in court. Ultimately, Stefanko did not testify at trial.
Was it the right defense move to keep Stefanko off the stand?
“I think it probably was,” said Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf. “I’m not one of those lawyers that says ‘don’t put your client on the stand’…I don’t go by that…I think your client takes the stand if they need to take the stand.”
“If your jury needs a ‘why,’” Wolf continued, “like…‘how did we end up here, why is this person being falsely accused,’ you put them up there so they can get their story out there. The defense team did a good job of putting the ‘why’ out there without putting her on the stand.”
Stefanko is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 11 for sentencing.
Watch the complete video to get more trial insight from Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf.
Mark Redwine Starts Court Preceedings
Dylan Redwine was visiting his father for the Thanksgiving holiday in 2012 when he disappeared. On two separate occasions, Dylan’s remains were found within eight miles of his father’s home in Plata County, Colorado.
This week, after delays that were exacerbated by COVID-19, Mark Redwine, who was arrested for murdering his son in 2017, is expected to begin court proceedings.
Despite unfavorable forensic evidence, including Dylan’s blood in and around the Redwine property, Mark Redwine maintains his innocence, speaking openly to reporters and even pleading his case on Dr. Phil in 2013.
How does speaking to the press impact a criminal defense? “It’s obviously a defense attorney’s nightmare,” says Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf.
In a recent Court TV interview, Wolf discussed how press coverage can change the optics of a high-profile case and reviews strategies the defense might use to improve Redwine’s presentation in court.
Discussing the Mark Redwine Case
Nearly five years after a 13-year-old boy disappeared while on a court-ordered visit with his father in Colorado, Mark Redwine has been charged with murdering his son.
According to the indictment, Dylan Redwine was visiting his father in La Plata County for the Thanksgiving holiday in 2012 when he disappeared.
In June 2013, some of Dylan’s remains were found on a road about eight miles from his father’s home, and more than two years later, hikers found Dylan’s skull one and a half miles away from where his partial remains had been found.
In a recent interview on Court TV, Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discusses the details of the case: “The amount of time an investigation takes is always going to be relevant. If it’s so obvious that a jury should come back guilty here, why wasn’t it so obvious to law enforcement for four and half years?”
Jeff Wolf Discusses the Chad Daybell Case
After the remains of Chad Daybell’s new wife’s two children were unearthed in his rural Idaho yard, suspicion over the death of his former wife, Tammy Daybell, may find its way into Chad Daybell’s court proceedings. Investigators are looking into the nature of Tammy Daybell’s sudden death last October due to allegedly natural causes. She was 49 years old.
According to Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf, “Instead of changing venue like they probably should, what the judge will do is ask if people can set it aside, and can you be fair even though you know about [Tammy]…that’s the big problem here, this small town is going to know everything…”
Oprah’s Involvement For Breonna Taylor
Oprah Winfrey is making her voice heard in Louisville, Kentucky, with 26 billboards demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by local police earlier this year. Taylor’s family is pursuing a civil case against the officers who, without warning, raided Taylor’s home. Can the officers be held criminally responsible?
“With the extreme political and social pressure surrounding this case, if there’s a way to file [criminal] charges, they’re going to do it,” said Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf. “Because justice is being demanded and not by just Oprah…we need to take action…”
Former Maxim Model Murder Case
Former MAXIM model, Kelsey Turner, faces murder charges for the death of Dr. Thomas Burchard, a 71-year-old psychiatrist. According to police, Burchard had an intimate relationship with Turner and paid rent on a Las Vegas home where Turner lived with her boyfriend and roommate. Domestic violence charges were filed against Turner’s boyfriend about a month before the couple allegedly killed Burchard. Was Turner under the violent control of her boyfriend when the murder took place?
“That’s exactly what they’re going to say,” said Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf. “This is the best defense for her, and it’s also very likely what happened.”
Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf weighs in following the release of new body camera footage taken during the arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis. At what point in the arrest did it go from lawful to unlawful?
“He is begging for mercy, begging for some humanity the entire encounter, and he doesn’t get it,” said Wolf. “Essentially, he’s mugged by officers…for an alleged counterfeit twenty-dollar bill. There isn’t a time when it turns criminal…this is criminal from start to finish.”
Defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf responds to the death of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner who was shot to death on July 5 in Atlanta, Georgia.
“These riots are the voice of the unheard,” said Wolf. “We need to see local leaders step up and do something.”
Denver defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf discusses military misconduct following the tragic murder of Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier who had alleged sexual harassment from a superior.
“One in four female service members are being sexually harassed or assaulted, and they’re doing nothing about it,” Wolf said.
Julia Leanna Tomlin, the mother of Noah Tomlin whose body was found in July near a trash incinerator, will be charged with murder in her son’s death.
Defense attorney and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf weighs in on the complexities of parenting, drug and alcohol addiction, and economic inequality.
“The resources aren’t there…the system is the problem here, said Wolf.
Mary Kay Letourneau, an infamous teacher who raped a male student and later married her victim, is dead at 58.
Denver defense lawyer and Court TV correspondent Jeffrey Wolf reiterates why the age of consent exists and settles the panel’s discussion: “It’s not a love story.”
