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By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive, Patreon
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SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 29 – A man was pleading guilty to felony gun possession and use on November 15, 2019 before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Andrew L. Carter.

   But as Inner City Press reported, the defendant Bob King could not answer the questions, about whether he had discussed his possible sentence with his lawyer coming to plead guilty, if he understood about the probation report, nothing.   

First Judge Carter took a break. But when he came back in, things were not better. He gave King and his lawyer until 3 pm to confer in the interview cells in 40 Foley Square.

  At 3 pm Inner City Press after publishing the above and broadcasting a Periscope from outside the courthouse went back to Judge Carter's (and Judge Engelmeyer's) 13th floor. There, King was was by the elevators in shackled, just leaving. Judge Carter's door was locked. Apparently the guilty plea was again, appropriately, not taken.

  A full week later, the "note" of the first postponement was belatedly placed in the docket on November 22: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr:Sentencing held on 11/15/2019 for Bob King (1) Count 1. Defendant Bob King appears with attorney Tommy Vu. AUSA Andrew Rohrbach for the Government. Case will be second called today. Defendant remain in custody. "

  On December 14 Judge Carter again heard the case. King does not remember the events. His lawyer offered an Alford plea, or no lo contendere. The AUSA said DOJ would oppose that plea, and asked for time to brief it. The US Attorney's Office also opposed a bench trial.

  So Judge Carter set a jury trial, for May 24.

On February 4, King's lawyer wrote in and asked for a March or April bench trial. But Judge Carter wrote, "DENIED."

 On April 20, 2021, after King's lawyer issued notice that he intends to introduce expert evidence related to mental condition at trial, the US Attorney's Office has complained and asked for an extension of the trial.

 On April 21, King's lawyer filed notes from the "call with Dr Jenkins, April 13," including Wirshba, Rohrbach and Mandel (paralegal), including that Dr Jenkins "has not reviewed the file in a while but she diagnosed him with malingering... re defense that King's memory issues would have prevented him from recalling that he was a felony" [sic]. The US Attorney's Office replied again asking for delay of the May 3 trial.

Now, the US has gotten a superseding indicment, and on April 30 wrote to Judge Carter that the Office "does not consent to a bench trial" and has "submitted to the Court a protective order and a request for unsealing of Bronx County grand jury materials."

 Inner City Press will continue on this case. It is US v. King, 18-cr-308 (Carter).