Court bills overwhelm public defender's budget
NORWICH – The Chenango County Public Defender’s office has requested an additional $35,000 to be added to the 2011 budget in anticipation of bills filed for defendant appeals that have occurred over the past two years.
According to Public Defender Alan Gordon, three cases have resulted in repeated appeals that will cost the county as much as $35,000 over the proposed budget for the year. The costs were unforeseen, but must be dealt with nonetheless, he said.
“We try to predict the amount as accurately as we can for the year,” he said. “But we can never be absolutely sure the extent of the appeals.”
Gordon explained that the trial of Peter M. Wlasiuk, who was convicted of murdering his wife in 2006, a verdict that was overturned by the New York State Appellate Division, and then re-tried September of 2008, has “cost the county a fortune.”
Numerous appeals in the cases of both George Ford and Michael Victor will also result in bills filed by assistant public defenders. Administrator Karri Beckwith explained the public defender fees would most likely be presented by the end of the year.
“We’re not certain when the bills will come through,” she said. “But combined, they would wipe out our remaining budget.”
Beckwith said that although there is still $65,000 in that particular line of the budget, she is expecting approximately $17,000 from the Michael Victor appeal and $25,000 from Wlasiuk’s attorney. She added that this included $4,800 for the court reporter requested by the lawyer.
In addition to the three large cases brought before the county court, there is also around $15,000 each month for the regularly assigned counsel, said Beckwith. She explained there is a percentage of costs covered by New York State, but that it would not be enough to cover all of the costs for the year.
“We’re essentially going to get wiped out by two big bills,” she said.
The Safety and Rules Committee voted to move the proposal to the Finance Committee as it is required by law that defendants be represented in the case of being unable to provide their own attorney.
“We really don’t have a choice, do we?” said Greene Supervisor Jack Cook.
According to Public Defender Alan Gordon, three cases have resulted in repeated appeals that will cost the county as much as $35,000 over the proposed budget for the year. The costs were unforeseen, but must be dealt with nonetheless, he said.
“We try to predict the amount as accurately as we can for the year,” he said. “But we can never be absolutely sure the extent of the appeals.”
Gordon explained that the trial of Peter M. Wlasiuk, who was convicted of murdering his wife in 2006, a verdict that was overturned by the New York State Appellate Division, and then re-tried September of 2008, has “cost the county a fortune.”
Numerous appeals in the cases of both George Ford and Michael Victor will also result in bills filed by assistant public defenders. Administrator Karri Beckwith explained the public defender fees would most likely be presented by the end of the year.
“We’re not certain when the bills will come through,” she said. “But combined, they would wipe out our remaining budget.”
Beckwith said that although there is still $65,000 in that particular line of the budget, she is expecting approximately $17,000 from the Michael Victor appeal and $25,000 from Wlasiuk’s attorney. She added that this included $4,800 for the court reporter requested by the lawyer.
In addition to the three large cases brought before the county court, there is also around $15,000 each month for the regularly assigned counsel, said Beckwith. She explained there is a percentage of costs covered by New York State, but that it would not be enough to cover all of the costs for the year.
“We’re essentially going to get wiped out by two big bills,” she said.
The Safety and Rules Committee voted to move the proposal to the Finance Committee as it is required by law that defendants be represented in the case of being unable to provide their own attorney.
“We really don’t have a choice, do we?” said Greene Supervisor Jack Cook.
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