Judge orders defendant to pay public defender's full fees

By Rachel Christensen

November 18, 2008 | Judge Thomas L. Willmore of the 1st District Court told Amy Stankiewicz she would have to pay back fees for her public defender, during her video arraignment Monday.

The 19-year-old from Salt Lake City was arrested Nov. 16 on charges of presenting false personal information to an officer and the unlawful possesion and consumption of alcohol by a minor. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Stankiewicz initially told Willmore she couldn't pay for a public defender. After learning that Stankiewicz didn't have the money because she chose to keep a job at a nonprofit organization and only worked minimum hours, Willmore ordered her to pay the lawyer in full.

"Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay your fees just because you like to work for a certain place and don't want to work full time," he said.

The appointment of a public defender was decided after Willmore confirmed Stankiewicz's family lawyer wasn't going to cover the case as she originally thought. Stankiewicz said she had used the lawyer before in a case in Idaho, but she had not yet contacted him about her current case.

"You think that guy works for free?" asked Willmore.

"No, I thought my parents were going to take care of that," she said.

Stankiewicz was released on her own recognizance. A pretrial conference will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 9.

NW
MS