Former Monroe City Councilmen Request New Trial
By: Staff
Updated: January 24, 2013
One year after two former Monroe City Councilmen were granted a new trial, the duo is preparing to fight for one once again. Red Stevens and Arthur Gilmore have motioned for a new trial.
As KTVE/KARD first reported in October, defense attorneys and a federal judge were made aware of a possible Brady/Giglio issue during a status conference that month with Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook. The Brady and Giglio cases refer to the prosecution failing to provide information to jurors which could have benefited the defendants. We now know that violation stems from the Government's failure to disclose an improper intimate relationship with Prosecuting Attorney Mignonne Griffing and Special Agent Bill Chesser. Court documents say no further details were given as to the parameters of the relationship, but counsel for the defendants were told to quote "assume the worst." Griffing was the lead prosecutor in this case. Chesser was not only the designated case agent, but also a witness at trial and the sole witness before the grand jury.
Now a hearing has been set where the defense requests Griffing, Agent Chesser, and other witnesses to take the stand.
Currently both Gilmore and Stevens are also appealing their convictions and sentences, after a judge upheld their 2011 convictions in March of 2012. Then in April a judge sentenced Gilmore to 41 months and Stevens to 51 months behind bars. Despite the appeal the two can also move forward with the new trial motion.
Gilmore's attorney Charles Kincade could not provide comment. We also spoke with FBI officials who say they cannot comment on the case because it is ongoing.
The hearing on the motion for a new trial is set for March 4th at 9am in Shreveport.
Read the motion for a new trial filed:
As KTVE/KARD first reported in October, defense attorneys and a federal judge were made aware of a possible Brady/Giglio issue during a status conference that month with Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook. The Brady and Giglio cases refer to the prosecution failing to provide information to jurors which could have benefited the defendants. We now know that violation stems from the Government's failure to disclose an improper intimate relationship with Prosecuting Attorney Mignonne Griffing and Special Agent Bill Chesser. Court documents say no further details were given as to the parameters of the relationship, but counsel for the defendants were told to quote "assume the worst." Griffing was the lead prosecutor in this case. Chesser was not only the designated case agent, but also a witness at trial and the sole witness before the grand jury.
Now a hearing has been set where the defense requests Griffing, Agent Chesser, and other witnesses to take the stand.
Currently both Gilmore and Stevens are also appealing their convictions and sentences, after a judge upheld their 2011 convictions in March of 2012. Then in April a judge sentenced Gilmore to 41 months and Stevens to 51 months behind bars. Despite the appeal the two can also move forward with the new trial motion.
Gilmore's attorney Charles Kincade could not provide comment. We also spoke with FBI officials who say they cannot comment on the case because it is ongoing.
The hearing on the motion for a new trial is set for March 4th at 9am in Shreveport.
Read the motion for a new trial filed:
