Wednesday, May 3, 2006

New attorney appointed for accused kidnapper

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

ROBERT JOE HARRISON JR.

Accused kidnapper Robert Joe Harrison Jr. will be represented by a new attorney, it was determined in 5th District Court in Hailey Monday.

In a hearing closed to the public, Judge Robert Elgee approved a motion from public defender Stephen Thompson to withdraw from the case. Elgee appointed Hailey attorney Cheri Hicks to represent Harrison instead.

Court records did not state a reason for Thompson's request and Elgee's order appointing new counsel merely said the motion was granted "based on conflict."

Harrison, 50, is charged by a Blaine County grand jury indictment with second-degree kidnapping for allegedly enticing a 10-year-old Hemingway Elementary School student into his vehicle on April 10 in Ketchum. Ketchum police said he released the boy later that day. Police reported the boy was not physically harmed.

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Prior to his arrest, Harrison was a security officer for the federal Transportation Security Administration at Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey. According to TSA officials, he has been suspended without pay.

No further court proceedings had been scheduled as of Tuesday. Harrison remained incarcerated in the Blaine County Jail on $500,000 bond.