Lyon quits Casey’s Case

As the case against Casey Anthony continues, one of her death penalty defence lawyers has quit.

Anthony (left) and Lyons (right) before the split. Image provided by, westorlandonews.com

Head lawyer Jose Baez spoke out stating, a motion had been filed on Wednesday afternoon at the Orange County Courthouse. It states, lawyer Andrea Lyon is leaving the case for financial reasons.

Chicago born Lyon was named as Anthony’s star lawyer and had she been on the defense team for over a year.

The experts

WFTV’s Legal Analyst Bill Sheaffer has said he is not surprised with the decision. With the lack of publicity surrounding the Lyon’s book, Sheaffer said it was only a matter of time and no significant loss.

Sheaffer believes that local lawyer J. Cheney Mason, a high profile Orlando defence lawyer can perform Lyon’s duties.

According to Baez, Mason has begun performing Lyon’s responsibilities including the filling of motions involving death penalty related arguments.

Money Matters

Lyon received a little more than $20,000 from Casey Anthony before the court declared her penniless.

But Sheaffer and others believe that Lyon was not a true believer in Anthony and that is why she quit.

Baez defended his former collogue claiming Lyon made financial sacrifices by paying for her own travel from Chicago to Orlando because she believed Anthony.

Lyon’s Future

There are no plans to replace Lyon but she will be focusing on a death penalty legal clinic that she runs.

Last year, Lyon appeared in the headlines when some controversial recordings surfaced prior to her joining Anthony’s defence team.

At one point, she referred to judges as “ugly,” alongside, verbally insulting female prosecutors and victim’s advocates, she called jurors “killers.”

The Case

Casey Anthony is accused of murdering her three-year-old daughter Caylee Marie Anthony in 2008, when she called the police claiming her daughter was missing.

The case became suspicious when the police found that Anthony had not reported her daughter missing until a month after she claimed to have seen her for the last time.

Anthony faces a first-degree murder charge but maintains her innocence along with family and friends but the toddler’s body was found outside the mothers home.

Case dropped in teen kidnapping

Orange County prosecutors drop case of false imprisonment against a 15-year-old boy.

Teen at press conference

It was announced today after Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings sent a letter to the state attorney’s office.

According to WESH news, the letter stated, there was probable cause for the arrest.

The Sheriff asked that the formal charges be dropped against the teen who is now 15.

The young man, known as Edwin, had been accused of taking a toddler out of the Burlington Coat Factory in west Orange County earlier in June.

The teen said he was only trying to help the three-year-old find her mother.

Good News

All charges have been dropped despite, evidence stating the teen had been involved in three incidents of a sexual nature on school property.

Defense lawyer Natalie Jackson, represents the teen and has always maintained his innocence.

Miss Jackson was interviewed this afternoon by WESH and said the sheriff’s request meant more to Edwin as it arrived on Monday, which was his birthday.

Edwin has said, he wants to get back to normal.

New evidence in kidnapping case

Prosecutors use school records against teen accused of false imprisonment.

Teen at press conference

Today the prosecutors referred to 18 separate disciplinary incidents form the teenager’s two schools.

According to News 27 this afternoon, prosecutors said they had not made the decision to file charges against the 14-year-old African American boy, who is only being identified as Edwin.

The boy was not at the hearing in Orange County when the prosecutor, Terry Mills said that “Three of (the incidents were) of a sexual nature.”

The teen’s defense attorney Anita Shorter disputed the amount of sexual nature charges held within the school system.

What has happened?

The judge lifted a home confinement punishment that was ordered when the teen attended court for the first time.

Edwin was arrested on the June 10 at the Burlington Coat Factory on West Colonial Drive.

He is accused of trying to abduct a 3-year-old girl. The stores surveillance video shows the teen talking with the girl, walking her out of the store and returning with her hand in hand. He is met by her mother and store security.

The mother decided to press charges and Edwin was placed under house arrest. The teen and his lawyer continue to claim he is innocent.

The NAACP are closely monitoring the ongoing investigation.

Teen accused of kidnapping

The teen was charged this evening with the false imprisonment of a child.

Shopping trolly

A 14-year-old Lake County boy is facing charges after the police say he attempted to kidnap toddler in an Orange County store.

Security footage from the Burlington Coat Factory store shows the suspect and the little girl inside together.

The girl, who wondered away from her mother, is seen talking with the boy and then following him out of the store.

Stranger Danger?

According to WFTV News, the security tape is the only evidence of this strange crime but the store investigators who interviewed the teen say they do not have any evidence to suggest he was trying to harm her.

“If there had been some other intent, then he would have been arrested for a kidnapping charge,” said Jeff Williamson from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office stated on this evening’s news.

Because the two children left the store, the false imprisonment charge was added. The video shows, the boy taking the girl by the hand and leading her away. This is why he was charged.

Mothers Actions

Two minutes elapse before the little girls mother leaves the store to look for her. She returns with her child followed by the young boy and his mother.

According to WFTV News, the boy was subjected to six hours of interviews before being charged with a second-degree felony. This means he could face between two and twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

“We went through the evidence over and over again just to make sure we were making the right decision, because this is a very young man’s life,” said Williamson to reports outside the crime scene.

Police who refuse to comment on why he acted this way is currently holding the boy’s statement. However, a spokesman for the boy’s family contacted WFTV News and said the boy was trying to help the girl find her family.

Documents Released In Bribery Case

Documents are released, as Commissioner Mildred Fernandez faces charges for corruption in Orlando.

The Orange County Courthouse, Orlando, Florida

Over 600 pages were released on Tuesday in connection with Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez who was arrested in April 2010 for bribery, grand theft and accepting illegal campaign contributions.

According to the state, the transcripts contain conversations with undercover agents proving Commissioner Fernandez was breaking the law. Her lawyer disagrees and claims the evidence proves her innocence.

The Evidence

The State Attorney’s Office released statements made by Fernandez. They claim her campaign office informed developers in ways to give her money and make it appear legal.

It is alleged, the commissioner accepted illegal campaign contributions in exchange for fast-tracking development projects.

She faces 14 charges, including grand theft, accepting illegal contributions, bribery and racketeering.

Fernandez’s Defence

Fernandez’s lawyer, Tony Suarez, said she did nothing wrong outside Orange County Courthouse. He said it’s not illegal to ask for campaign contributions and she was trying to help a constituent.

“All lobbyist buy access, that’s what lobbyist do. It’s totally legal within our system to buy access to legislators,” Suarez told WFTV. “This is the most extreme use of prosecutorial power and interpretation of statue I have seen in my 33 years as a lawyer.”

The Commissioner has withdrawn from the Orange County mayor race and Governor Charlie Crist has decided against his 12-week window to replace the commission. His office has stated there is no official deadline or timetable.