OGDEN — A judge appointed two public defenders to represent accused police-shooter Matthew David Stewart Tuesday as prosecutors asked his paid attorney to withdraw from the case.
But Randy Richards declined to step down as the contention between him and prosecutors became clear in the hearing before 2nd District Judge Noel Hyde.
Hyde set a March 19 status conference as Richards complained prosecutors were dragging their feet in providing him the evidence against his client.
"I’ve gotten nothing from the state and I’ve been told I’ll get nothing," Richards said. " ... I need to make a record of that because the state is trying to take my client’s life."
"For him to represent to this court, and publicly, that the county attorney’s office is hiding something is just wrong," Deputy Weber County Attorney Chris Shaw responded.
Stewart is charged with nine felonies and faces the death penalty in the Jan. 4 shoot out with police serving a search warrant at his home. Weber Morgan Narcotics Strike Force agent Jared Francom died and five other officers were injured.
Hyde appointed William Allbright, a Davis County public defender, and Ryan Bushell, a Weber County defender, to Stewart’s defense team.
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