Rinehart's Attorneys Withdraw Without Explanation

Hat tip to Mike @ http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/

Two attorneys for Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart withdrew from his felony case today without explanation, meaning Rinehart now must find a new attorney before he returns to court in February on campaign finance charges.

Both of his attorneys asked for permission to withdraw from the case today when Rinehart made his first appearance before Oklahoma County Judge Jerry Bass.

Rinehart was ordered last month to face trial on conspiracy, money laundering and perjury charges stemming from his campaign for county commissioner in 2004. His former campaign manager and former State Rep. Tim Pope and contributor Ray Pelfrey, Del City businessman, face similar charges.

They are due back in court Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. for another pre-trial conference.

Rinehart, Pope, Pelfrey Bound Over For Trial

County Commissioner Brent Rinehart, former State
Rep. Tim Pope and Midwest City businessman
Ray Pelfrey were bound over for trial in Oklahoma
County District Court today.

The charges they face grew out of an investigation
into the financing of Rinehart's campaign.

Special Judge James Paddleford announced the
decision after a long weekend of reviewing the
case presented by the Attorney General's office.
Paddleford said in his opinion that there is
sufficient evidence to put Rinehart, former
legislator turned political consultant Pope and
Pelfrey on trial.

Stephen Jones of Enid, Tim Pope’s attorney,
responded to the court finding: "The prosecution
of Tim Pope is dishonest, unfair and political. Tim
has tremendous community support from his
friends in the Legislature and in politics, his clients,
his family and his church. They stand by him and
his day of vindication is coming. We intend to show
in the weeks and months ahead that this charge is
politically inspired, selective prosecution, and is
based upon a house of cards which will crumble."