US Attorney Smietanka Joins Sean Phillips' Defense Team

[XLFD]

In a move that helps his chances to beat the rap for an open murder charge, Sean Phillips now has an extra member on his legal defense team; an experienced attorney with some impressive victories under his belt, John Smietanka.  In Phillips' second trial, the high powered legal help on both sides will be funded at the taxpayer's expense, of course. 

LUDINGTON, Mich. (WOOD) — Months after the Michigan attorney general announced his office will prosecute the father of missing baby Kate Phillips for murder, the defense is getting some help as a well-known attorney joins its team.

Sean Phillips (above) stands charged with murdering Kate, his 5-month-old daughter, and is currently serving prison time on an unlawful imprisonment conviction for taking her from her mother. Kate, who went missing in the summer of 2011, has not been found.

(John Smietanka. Undated courtesy photo)

John Smietanka, a former U.S. attorney for the Western Michigan District, will sit at the defense table for Phillips at taxpayers’ expense. He will act as an adviser to David Glancy (below), the attorney appointed to represent Phillips at trial.

Smietanka says he will work alongside Gene Debbaudt (below), a former head of West Michigan’s FBI office, who ran for Kent County Sheriff in 2008.

In October 2013, Attorney General Bill Schuette announced his office was charging Phillips with murder and would handle prosection of the case.

Glancy then requested assistance in defending the case from the court “because of the number of people and agencies involved on the other side,” he said.

The court granted the request and contacted Smietanka to aid in the case.

“They’re trying to make sure that in a serious case like this, that the man has fair representation,” Smietanka told 24 Hour News 8.

                 Attorney General Schuette and Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola

Smietanka has gone head-to-head with the Michigan AG’s office before — and won.

In January 2013, he defended Mark Anthony Coulier, a man accused of murdering his ex-wife. Coulier walked on the charge after the judge granted a motion for a directed not guilty verdict in the case following the prosecution’s presentation of its case.

Smietanka is not saying that will happen in this case or even saying he anticipates a strong defense for Phillips.

“We will do the best to get him a fair trial,” Smietanka said. “I do it because I think that it is important that everybody gets fair representation.”

Smietanka would not divulge how much the county is paying him to work on the case, but says he’s acting as an adviser as opposed to serving as co-council because he “thought it was the most economical and appropriate way to handle it.”

“I am paid according to the court schedule. … It’s an hourly rate based upon the actual hours I put in on the case,” Smietanka said.

http://woodtv.com/2014/03/03/former-us-attorney-to-help-defend-baby...

[XLFD]

I think the firm of Coops and Spanny has already drained him of any iota of hope of winning anything other than a concession or two in some plea deals.  If your life is on the line in Mason County, go into debt if need be to get a real mouthpiece. 

But he has the big time coming up with the Phillips trial; maybe he has been sandbagging all this time.

[Soupcan Sam]

Thats funny, those 2 will give you a headake when you have to deal with them

[XLFD]

You'll get a headache at the start, but the pain will start going a bit lower and to the rear the longer you deal with them.

[Soupcan Sam]

oh believe me I know that. and it dont take long ether

[AQUAMAN]

That's funny Streeter, nice Sugarloaf analogy. The parts of that courthouse ringy-dingy ending bell amount to alot of easily found springs, washers, and NUTS! The end song is that of nothing more than DING-DONG, the witch is dead scenario. I do hope Phillips can get some relief with the new team, Glancy notwithstanding.