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Another article showed up this morning.....
Donny Pauling began representing himself in court Friday.
Pauling has pleaded not guilty to 19 criminal charges involving unlawful sex acts with three teen girls. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Sutter County Superior Court Judge Susan E. Green relieved Roberto Marquez as Pauling's defense attorney and appointed Pauling to represent himself in response to a motion filed by Marquez on Thursday.
She did so after she expressed concerns about Pauling's decision to dismiss Marquez, given the seriousness of the charges and the proximity to the Sept. 29 jury trial.
A former Chico-based pornography producer, Pauling, 41, had said he found God and traveled to churches around the country as an anti-pornography activist. He lived in Yuba City when he was arrested Dec. 1 on suspicion of on-going sexual acts with a teen girl. Investigation led to two additional alleged victims and charges, including an act of unlawful sex with a girl while former Sutter County sheriff's Lt. Lewis McElfresh allegedly watched while masturbating.
Marquez, who has represented Pauling since January, will hand over his trial preparation binders to Pauling. And Investigators in the case can now talk to Pauling directly, Green said.
"I've wanted that from the beginning," Pauling said. "I believe if I tell the truth, the truth will come out."
In his first action on his own behalf, Pauling made a motion to continue the trial. Deputy District Attorney Anu Chopra objected. Green told Pauling he has to file a written motion to be heard on the matter.
Pauling also requested to be appointed co-counsel.
He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 24 to argue motions about what trial evidence.
Pauling has an Associate's Degree from DeVry University in computer science. If not for his arrest, he said, he would also have degrees in philosophy and psychology.
"I have some concerns that your defendant is not making a good decision in firing you," Green said to Marquez before she granted the motion.
"At this point, I think things are broken down enough that there needs to be a change," Pauling told Green.
"It's an irreconcilable breakdown," Marquez said.
Pauling said he didn't learn there was a Friday court date until he read a newspaper story. He had requested a hearing to be scheduled Monday because "I said I might fire you," Pauling said.
During the hearing, Green closed the courtroom to allow for a candid conversation with Pauling and Marquez. She had told Pauling to stop talking in public court because, she was concerned about him presenting confidential information that may harm him.
By taking over the role as his own representative, Pauling gave up his right to appeal any conviction on the basis of poor representation. Green told him he will get no special treatment, and she expects him to make appropriate objections.
If he misbehaves, he will lose his right to represent himself; If he misbehaves in jail, he could lose time in the law library, Green said.
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