New lawyer request denied
Keith Jordan Lambing, 21, of Butler requested that a judge provide him with a new lawyer in a case where he is facing the death penalty for allegedly killing a young boy.
“I just want a fair trial and a fair shot at proving my innocence,” he said. After Judge Timothy McCune asked why he was making the request, Lambing responded, “Just the way my counsel carries themselves. Just a lot of red flags are going up. Something doesn't feel right.”
Citing a lack of evidence to support Lambing's claim that his lawyer, Charles Nedz, is ineffective, McCune didn't grant his request.
“I haven't heard anything that tells me they can't represent you adequately,” McCune said to Lambing. “The court is ready to proceed with this and I see no reason to change counsel.”
In cases where a defendant is found to be indigent, such as Lambing, the county appoints a lawyer to the defendant at no cost. Often, the lawyer will be a public defender — such as Nedz. McCune noted that Lambing can hire his own private attorney if he can come up with the funds. But for the moment, Lambing will continue to be represented by Nedz.
“Our position is we're not going to withdraw. We've been diligent,” said Kevin Flaherty, the chief public defender for the county.
Flaherty substituted for Nedz, who was away on Monday.
Flaherty continued, “Whatever he's talking about with our demeanor, I have no idea what he's talking about.”
Flaherty reaffirmed the public defender's office has “a responsibility to the citizens of the county to provide competent representation.”
Lambing is accused of killing 4-year-old Bentley Thomas Miller, who bled to death on March 21, 2017, after being sexually assaulted in a room at the Super 8 motel on Pittsburgh Road in Butler Township, according to investigators. Lambing is charged with one felony count each of criminal homicide, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with serious bodily injury, rape of a child, rape of a child with serious bodily injury, aggravated indecent assault of a child, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children and one misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger is pursuing the death penalty against Lambing.
Lambing will be back in court Wednesday, this time with Nedz, for a pretrial hearing. For the appearances, Nedz subpoenaed several people, including Mackenzie Paige Peters, Bentley's mother; and Detective Thomas Vensel and Sergeant David Fish, both of whom are officers with the Butler Township Police Department.
