CASTLE ROCK — The attorney for Perrish Cox, the Denver Broncos cornerback charged with sexual assault, is seeking to ban the public and the media from a preliminary hearing Thursday.
In a motion filed this week in Douglas County district court, attorney Harvey Steinberg wrote that having the media attend the hearing would “severely impact the defendant’s right to trial by a fair and impartial jury.
“The release of such information creates a clear and present danger to the court’s ability to conduct a fair and impartial trial,” he wrote. “The media should be excluded from the preliminary hearing.”
Attorney Steve Zansberg, who represents The Denver Post, The Associated Press and The New York Times, said today that he would fight closing the preliminary hearing.
Most of the court documents in the case have been sealed by Judge Susanna Meissner-Cutler, including any evidence prosecutors have against Cox.
An official with the 18th Judicial District said today that the judge could rule by today, but more likely on Thursday, prior to the hearing.
Cox was arrested late Dec. 9, after Lone Tree police received a sexual-assault complaint Oct. 28. The complaint alleges that the assault occurred around Sept. 6.
Cox, whose alias in court documents is listed as “Peacock,” faces two felony charges that accuse him of sexually assaulting a helpless victim incapable of appraising her own condition.
If convicted, he faces between two years to life in prison.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
