Judge OKs use of public funds by attorney in Williams case

Greg Tuttle

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 10:22 a.m.

Public funds can be used to pay experts and investigators hired to help a Las Vegas woman in her defense against charges stemming from the roadside deaths of six teenagers.

Clark County District Judge Mark Gibbons Thursday granted a request from the attorney representing Jessica Williams to hire experts at public expense because the 21-year-old woman is penniless.

"Jessica has absolutely no money," attorney John Watkins said. "She obviously has no job. She has no assets. She is indigent."

Prosecutors asked Gibbons to watch closely over the expenditures, which must be approved by the judge. Williams has been able to hire a private attorney, they said, and has even contracted with a former television reporter to handle her public relations.

"Where did money come from for that?" asked Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson.

Watkins told Gibbons his fee has only partially been paid by Williams' family, and anyone else working on the defense case is doing so on behalf of his law firm.

"John Watkins is the captain of the ship," he said.

Gibbons said state law allows public funds to be spent in some cases where defendants are able to hire a private attorney.

Williams is accused of driving into the median of Interstate 15 on March 19, killing six teenagers picking up trash as part of a county community service work crew. Prosecutors allege she was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

She is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on $5 million bail. A Jan. 29 trial is scheduled.