DRUG SUSPECTS NEED LAWYERS

Kings County board OKs funds for more public defenders.

The recent arrests of 26 people involved in a massive drug-trafficking
organization have left Kings County scrambling to find more public defenders.

This week, the Board of Supervisors issued a resolution so money could be
transferred into an account that would help pay the salaries for additional
lawyers.

"We have to defend those that don't have money to do that themselves,"
board chairman Tony Oliveira said. "We had to allocate funds so we could
hire other attorneys to defend those people."

The county set aside $20,000 to pay for lawyers' fees. The county also
increased the rate of pay for public defenders because of the complexity of
the cases.

Lawyers will be paid $60 per hour, not to exceed $1,200 through the
preliminary hearing. The normal rate is $60 per hour, not to exceed $190
through the preliminary hearing.

The rate of pay for a trial also was increased. Lawyers will be paid $480 a
day instead of $410 a day.

"The situation that we have is that we have far more individuals involved
in a case then we have individuals to represent them," County
Administrative Officer Larry Spikes said.

The county has contracts with seven local lawyers who serve as public
defenders in felony cases. But more than seven are needed to represent the
suspects arrested May 2, who are charged with various narcotics violations.

Fourteen suspects have said they can't afford to pay for their own lawyer.

"There really isn't much choice," said Patrick Hart, a deputy district
attorney. "If the county doesn't find someone to defend these people, then
the courts will order the county to pay for it."

The arrests came after a nine-month investigation into a drug-trafficking
organization based in Hanford. Authorities estimated the organization
manufactured 20 pounds to 30 pounds of methamphetamine a week and
distributed about 1,000 pounds of the drug locally and across state lines.
The estimated street value was nearly $45,000.

Nine people were arrested and charged with federal counts of conspiring to
manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine. Their
cases will be tried in federal court in Fresno.

Seventeen other people were arrested and charged with state narcotics
violations. Their cases will be tried in Kings County Superior Court.