Billy Craig Jr. Greg Bell
Murder suspect Billy Craig Jr., has been assigned a new attorney after his current attorney requested he be taken off the case. Local Attorney Greg Bell will now take over the case for Don Snapp.
Snapp had filed a motion with the court stating that there are numerous conflicts of interest that have developed. He told the court Friday that it could cause everyone a lot of problems based on statements Craig made to co-counsel in the case, Attorney Molly McMurray. He says he could potentially be a witness, but didn’t elaborate in open court because of attorney-client privilege.
Snapp was representing Craig on three cases, but initially only wanted off the murder case, or that’s the only one he listed on his motion, but in court Friday, he told Judge Tim Chambers that he wanted off all three. Judge Chambers told him to file formal motions and they would go from there.
Bell is a local attorney for the firm, Forker Suter, LLC. Whether he’ll be assigned to the other two cases, in addition to the murder case is unclear.
Craig along with co-defendant Charles Christopher Logsdon are charged with the murder of Jennifer Heckel last summer. Other charges against the two include conspiracy to commit first degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. It’s believed that Logsdon actually fire the shot that killed Heckel, but Craig was also there. It’s believed the victim was shot in a case of mistaken identity.
Judge Chambers set a status hearing for June 7, to decide where they are in the case. There is no doubt that any jury trial will be delayed because it will take some time for Bell to get up to speed on the case, which includes an incredible amount of discovery.
District Attorney Keith Schroeder says that includes 150 or so C-D’s of various interviews in the case. He asked that the court order all discovery in the case given to Donald Snapp now be turned over to Greg Bell. Snapp indicated that he had all of the materials in his vehicle and would gladly do so.
Craig is also alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy to commit crimes associated with a fake driver’s licenses along with Kylie Hartman and Kasey Pisoni. Pisoni entered a plea in the case, while the charges against Hartman were dropped, however the state is expected to refile the charges.
In the drug case, Craig faces charges of possession methamphetamine with intent to sell within a thousand feet of Hutchinson High School, attempted sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, and unlawful possession of a fake drivers license which is now a charge of identity theft. This case occurring between June 1 and July 2, 2011.
A pre-trial hearing in this case is set to be in front of Judge Trish Rose for June 1st, but that may be continued.
Craig showed up in court Friday escorted by two Reno County Sheriff Jail guards and sporting a black eye on one side and scratches on the other side of his face. Apparently, he got into a fight with another inmate in the Butler County Jail, where he being housed.