Lawyer quits copper theft case over interest conflict

The legal problems of one of two men who have pleaded guilty to a copper theft that endangered public safety continued in a western Newfoundland courtroom Friday.

Eric Young, 18, and Christopher Jesso, 41, fired a legal aid lawyer earlier this week, when they said in a Tuesday court appearance in Stephenville that they did not understand gravity of the crimes to which they had confessed.

Young and Jesso admitted they stole copper wire from Stephenville's airport, leading to charges that included including endangering the safety of aircraft, a conviction for which can carry a five-year prison sentence.

But on Friday, Young's new lawyer Gary Kearney, who is also a Legal Aid Commission lawyer resigned from the case, declaring himself in a conflict of interest.

Kearney told the court that because Young had argued that his previous lawyer, Paul Malone, who works with Kearney in the commission's office in Corner Brook, had not given him all the facts of the case, he could not represent him fairly.

Jesso is now being represented by Howard Pitts, who works with the Legal Aid Commission in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Young now has to find a new lawyer in time for a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 27.

A large amount of copper wire was stolen from Stephenville's airport in November, temporarily knocking out landing lights.