A man awaiting extradition to Utah must keep his court-appointed attorney, a judge has ruled.
John Chaney is accused of holding a ceremony in 1993 marrying his 13-year-old daughter to a 48-year-old man. He is charged in a Utah warrant with conspiracy to commit rape of a child and conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Chaney denies the accusation.He is charged in Michigan with being a fugitive and has been jailed while awaiting an extradition hearing.
Chaney's court-appointed attorney, Patrick O'Connell, on Tuesday asked District Judge Frank Line to allow him to withdraw.
"He has informed me he wants to hire his own attorney," O'Connell said, "or represent himself."
O'Connell said in his motion that Chaney threatened to sue him if the lawyer stayed on the case.
Line denied O'Connell's motion and ordered the attorney to remain as Chaney's counsel.
Chaney, 39, was not in court Tuesday because he refused to wear jail clothes. He also has refused to eat jail food since his arrest but has been taking a liquid nutrition supplement.
Chaney was arrested Oct. 31. At the same time, police took his 15-year-old common-law wife, Ariel Chaney, into custody after probate court officials said they did not believe their Alabama marriage was valid.
The girl has been placed in foster care, and a trial is scheduled next month to determine if court jurisdiction will continue.