Court filing

Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and Request for Appointment of Conflict-Free Counsel — United States v. Chapon (Dkt. 123, D. Nev.)

Summary

A Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and Request for Appointment of Conflict-Free Counsel in United States of America v. Karen Chapon, Case No. 2:20-CR-00286-JCM-NJK, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, filed October 6, 2023 with expedited treatment requested. Assistant Federal Public Defender Brian Pugh states that on October 4, 2023 he learned of a conflict of interest in continuing to represent Ms. Chapon. The motion states that disclosing the conflict would violate attorney-client privilege, but that the Federal Public Defender's Office has reviewed it and concluded that a conflict exists. An attached order granting the motion is dated in October 2023.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Filed October 6, 2023 in Karen Chapon; one of 10 filings from this case.

Record facts

Court	U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada
Filed	2023-10-06

Cite this document

“Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and Request for Appointment of Conflict-Free Counsel — United States v. Chapon (Dkt. 123, D. Nev.).” U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, No. 2:20-cr-00286, Doc. 123, filed 2023-10-06. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/court-filings/us-v-karen-chapon/2023-10-06-motion-to-withdraw-as-counsel-and-request-for-appointment-of-dkt-123/, SHA-256 3b5efaf39e4930a7d8dad50693f35d226507dccf10e1290ae202b4c7b6900482.

Search CourtListener for this docket number

Full text

Case 2:20-cr-00286-JCM-NJK Document 123 Filed 10/06/23 Page 1 of 3

1 RENE L. VALLADARES
Federal Public Defender
2 State Bar No. 11479
BRIAN PUGH
Assistant Federal Public Defender
3 Law Office of the Federal Public Defender
411 E. Bonneville Avenue, Suite 250
4 Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
(702) 388-6577/Phone
5 (702) 388-6261/Fax
Brian_Pugh@fd.org
6 Attorney for Karen Chapon

7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
9 -oOo-
10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
) Case No. 2:20-CR-00286-JCM-NJK
11 Plaintiff, )
) MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS
12 ) COUNSEL AND REQUEST FOR
vs. ) APPOINTMENT OF CONFLICT-
) FREE COUNSEL
13 KAREN CHAPON, ) (Expedited treatment requested)
)
14 Defendant. )
)
15

16 On behalf of the Defendant, Karen Chapon, Assistant Federal Public Defender Brian

17 Pugh, files this Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and Request for Appointment of Conflict-Free

18 Counsel, and states the following:

19 On October 4, 2023, undersigned counsel learned of a conflict of interest in continuing to

20 represent Ms. Chapon. Undersigned counsel investigated and researched the nature of the conflict
before filing this motion.
21
Disclosure of the conflict would violate Ms. Chapon’s attorney-client privilege; however,
22
the Federal Public Defender’s Office has staffed the purported conflict and has concluded that a
23 conflict in this matter does in fact exit regarding the continued representation of Ms. Chapon. The
24 conflict prevents undersigned counsel and the Office of the Federal Public Defender of Nevada

Case 2:20-cr-00286-JCM-NJK Document 123 Filed 10/06/23 Page 2 of 3

1 from providing zealous, conflict-free representation during all stages of Mr. Chapon’s

2 criminal proceedings.
Because of the conflict of interest, undersigned counsel moves to withdraw
3
immediately as counsel. In addition, undersigned counsel requests immediate appointment of
4
independent, conflict-free counsel for Ms. Chapon.
5 Undersigned counsel does not file this motion lightly. Nor is he filing this motion for any
6 improper purpose or to delay. Rather, counsel is concerned about the need to appoint conflict-

7 free counsel as soon as possible because sentencing in this case is scheduled for November 29,
2023. ECF No. 118.
8
The undersigned is mailing a copy this motion to Ms. Chapon today as required by LR
9
IA 10-6(b).
10 Conclusion
11 A conflict in this matter exits regarding the continued representation of Ms. Chapon. The

12 conflict prevents undersigned counsel and the Office of the Federal Public Defender of Nevada
from providing zealous, conflict-free representation during all stages of Ms. Chapon’s
13
criminal proceedings.
14
In light of the conflict of interest, undersigned counsel requests permission to
15 withdraw immediately as counsel and requests the immediate appointment of independent,
16 conflict-free counsel for Ms. Chapon.

17 Respectfully submitted this 4th day of October, 2023.

18 RENE L. VALLADARES
Federal Public Defender
19
By /s/ Brian Pugh
20
BRIAN PUGH
Assistant Federal Public Defender
21

24
2

Case 2:20-cr-00286-JCM-NJK Document 123 Filed 10/06/23 Page 3 of 3

1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA

3 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No. 2:20-CR-00286-JCM-NJK
4 Plaintiff, ORDER

5 v.
KAREN CHAPON,
6
Defendant.
7

8
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the foregoing Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and
9
Request for Appointment of Conflict-Free Counsel is hereby GRANTED.
10
Dated this ____ 6,
October day of October, 2023.
2023.
11

12
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
13

24
3

File and source

File: 123.pdf
Size: 118,854 bytes
SHA-256: 3b5efaf39e4930a7d8dad50693f35d226507dccf10e1290ae202b4c7b6900482
Our copy: 123.pdf