Raber trial postponed to October

The trial of Lesley Raber for aggravated homicide by vehicle has been continued until October due to a change in the defendant’s attorney. According to the motion filed with District Court, the request was made because Raber recently retained a new defense attorney based on “a dissatisfaction with prior trial counsel”.

The motion acknowledged that this issue was raised only two weeks before the trial, which has been pending for ten months; however, “it has been in the preparation for trial and last minute negotiations that this dissatisfaction has arisen”.

Supplemental documents filed with the motion state that Raber was not satisfied with the case Steven Titus of Steven Titus and Associates was preparing and felt he “lacked felony jury trial experience”. He has been replaced by Devon Petersen of Fleener Petersen LLC of Laramie.

Raber’s new counsel requested more time to adequately review the evidence and conduct an investigation in order to prepare for the trial and potential plea negotiations. Petersen stated in supplemental documents that there are several things he believes would be beneficial to Raber’s defense that could not be completed before the trial’s scheduled date of June 26.

This includes the addition of several new witnesses. According to Petersen, only one witness had been named; he listed up to eight additional witnesses, each potentially adding documents to the exhibit list.

Petersen also noted that the June 26 date allowed just three days for the trial to be completed. However, he said in the supplemental documents, the State has listed up to 22 witnesses who may be called to the stand.

Even without the additional eight witnesses Petersen could add to the list with the permission of the court, he argued that three days may not be long enough to complete the trial. He requested that the trial’s rescheduled date be set on a Monday.

Peterson also pointed out that continuing the trial until a later date would allow “a full investigation and negotiation, which could lead to a possible settlement and obviate the need for a trial altogether”.

Raber pled not guilty in November to felony charges of aggravated homicide by vehicle following an incident last August in which she allegedly pulled out onto U.S. 212 near milepost 19 and collided with a trike motorcycle. The trial is now scheduled to begin on October 14.