CENTENNIAL — A judge today booted the two public defenders who were representing Aaron Thompson, who has been charged in the death of his 6-year-old daughter, Aaroné.
Arapahoe County District Court Judge Mark Hannen upheld the motion filed by the district attorney’s office that claimed the public defender’s office had a conflict because it has represented several witnesses set to testify in Thompson’s trial.
But Hannen allowed Thompson to waive that and allow his current team to continue representing him. At a hearing today in which Thompson was scheduled to enter a plea, Thompson announced he would not.
“I would like them to continue as my lawyers, but I’m not ready to waive it at this time,” Thompson said.
A hearing will be held in several weeks to appoint a new attorney for Thompson, which will come from the Alternate Defense Counsel and be paid for by the state.
Jim O’Connor, one of Thompson’s public defenders, said he will appeal the ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court.
Thompson was scheduled to go to trial in June in connection with the death of Aaroné. But that will probably be postponed, given today’s events.
Thompson reported his daughter missing on Nov. 14, 2005. He and his common-law wife, Shelley Lowe, were considered “persons of interest” in the case. Lowe died last year.
Aaroné’s body has never been found.
Among the 60 charges against Thompson, who is in the Arapahoe County jail, are child abuse resulting in death, abuse of a corpse and assault with a deadly weapon.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
