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Lawyers wrangle, judge grants sentencing delay for teen rapist
Alexander Cervantes
FAIRFIELD — A Vacaville teenager who raped, sodomized and repeatedly stabbed a 13-year-old girl and then repeatedly stabbed her baby brother in December 2010 was in court briefly Monday, where his sentencing was postponed again.
Alexander Cervantes, 16, who was prosecuted as an adult, was found guilty by a jury last year of 15 felony charges that included premeditated attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, torture, assault, rape and several sexual assault offenses.
On the day months ago when Cervantes was originally scheduled for sentencing, lawyers with a large international law firm announced they were taking over the case from the Solano County Public Defender’s Office.
Chief Deputy Public Defender Oscar Bobrow invoked attorney-client privilege, explaining the lack of cooperation with the new firm. One of Cervantes’ new attorneys, Peter Obstler from the law firm of Bingham McCutchen LLP, quickly responded with dismay and disdain.
“A claim of separate attorney-client privilege? We represent the same client,” Obstler said.
Judge Harry S. Kinnicutt declined to put himself into the middle of the dispute, which could lead Obstler to claim the Public Defender’s Office had botched their defense for their young client.
Kinnicutt agreed, again, to postpone sentencing for several weeks to give Obstler time to try to resolve the communications breakdown.
Cervantes was ordered back to court April 26 for sentencing and a new trial request.
Reach Jess Sullivan at 427-6919 or jsullivan@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jsullivandr.
Jess Sullivan
Discussion | 1 comment
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Rich GiddensMarch 05, 2013 - 2:42 pm
This makes Solano County and their public pretender's office look like the pieces of Obama that they truly are. Exactly who is paying for this new attorney?
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