MODESTO (CBS13) — A Modesto attorney accused of orchestrating a crook conspiracy that ended in the demise of 26-12 months-old Korey Kauffman of Turlock has been acquitted. Investigators say the murder occurred after brothers allegedly determined Kauffman was burglarising attorney Frank Carson’s Turlock belongings. Kauffman’s went lacking in 2012 and was discovered miles away in the Stanislaus National Forest 12 months later.
Carson’s wife, daughter, and three former California Highway Patrol officials have dealt with charges relating to the case, but those expenses have been later dropped. Two co-defendants, brothers Daljit Atwal and Baljit Athwal, accused in the murder conspiracy case, were also acquitted. The prosecutors alleged that Carson masterminded a homicide-for-hire plot. Prosecutors say Kauffman turned into targeted for repeatedly stealing from Carson’s belongings.
Robert Lee Woody admitted to killing Kauffman. He testified to Carson for the duration of the trial. The lawyer representing the Coachella, Calif., woman caught on digicam dumping 3-day-vintage puppies in a Dumpster argued that “puppies aren’t humans” at a bail listening to Thursday. Deborah Sue Culwell is charged with seven counts of legal animal cruelty and seven counts of a misdemeanor, leaving behind animals for the April 18 incident. She has pleaded now not guilty.
She had previously been released on $10,000 bail on April 23. However, prosecutors chose to increase it to $50,000 on Thursday. Joseph Cavanaugh, Culwell’s legal professional, made the “puppies aren’t human beings” remark throughout the hearing and added that the woman shouldn’t be held to the identical trendy as a person who harms every other person.
Culwell became stuck on video placing a bag allegedly containing seven dogs in a Dumpster with temperatures within the mid-90s. A passerby determined the puppies and alerted the police. An additional 38 puppies had been later rescued from her domestic and despatched to shelters. At the bail hearing, Cavanaugh also argued unsuccessfully that the purpose of bail is to make sure a defendant suggests up for interviews. Culwell’s shouldn’t be raised because she made all her court appearances.
Prosecutors argued that the initial $10,000 bail didn’t shape the nature of the accusations or the seven-year sentence she’ll face if convicted. In the give-up, the judge sided with the prosecutors and ruled that Culwell would return to jail until she could pay the $50,000 bail. Her initial hearing is scheduled for July 1.
