First Appearance Hearing Set For Thursday For Desmonte Leonard
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: June 13, 2012
There are several developments this morning in the Auburn shooting case.
A first appearance hearing has been scheduled for Desmonte Leonard on Thursday morning in a Lee County courtroom. The original plan was for Leonard to appear in court today but due to scheduling conflicts for the court system changes had to be made.
Leonard is still in the a Montgomery County jail. He will eventually be taken to Lee County according to law enforcement.
Leonard turned himself in last night at the Federal Courthouse in Montgomery. Well known defense attorney Susan James negotiated an agreement for Leonard to turn himself in. Part of those negotiations included tight security and no media presence.
James said she worked out the agreement with the US Marshal's service and in particular US Marshal Art Baylor. He was then officially charged with three counts of capital murder and two counts of first degree assault.
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson says that Leonard actually apologized to law enforcement at the time of the booking and was allowed to enter the building on his own. He then answered several questions and followed several formal commands according to James.
At this time James is not Leonard's attorney. She says she just worked with family members to make sure that Leonard turned himself over the authorities and did so in a safe manor. She also says that in the days to come you will hear another side to the shooting story that will be different from what has previously been reported.
A first appearance hearing has been scheduled for Desmonte Leonard on Thursday morning in a Lee County courtroom. The original plan was for Leonard to appear in court today but due to scheduling conflicts for the court system changes had to be made.
Leonard is still in the a Montgomery County jail. He will eventually be taken to Lee County according to law enforcement.
Leonard turned himself in last night at the Federal Courthouse in Montgomery. Well known defense attorney Susan James negotiated an agreement for Leonard to turn himself in. Part of those negotiations included tight security and no media presence.
James said she worked out the agreement with the US Marshal's service and in particular US Marshal Art Baylor. He was then officially charged with three counts of capital murder and two counts of first degree assault.
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson says that Leonard actually apologized to law enforcement at the time of the booking and was allowed to enter the building on his own. He then answered several questions and followed several formal commands according to James.
At this time James is not Leonard's attorney. She says she just worked with family members to make sure that Leonard turned himself over the authorities and did so in a safe manor. She also says that in the days to come you will hear another side to the shooting story that will be different from what has previously been reported.
