Sects and Lies

Did the isolated, unhappy life of an Arlington family of Jehovah's Witnesses breed false charges of sexual abuse? Absolutely, says a family member who never got a chance to tell her side of the story.

A A A Comments By Thomas Korosec Thursday, Dec 7 2000

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Prosecutor Callaghan calls Casey's argument "bunk." Stevenson made it clear that even if he could afford a lawyer, he wanted to represent himself. He said on the record that he had a better chance of acquittal on his own. "He is very arrogant. He made it clear he was smarter than all of us, and he was going to get out of it for that reason," the prosecutor says.

Her office's legal response to Casey's challenge contends that the court never threatened Stevenson with jail if he requested a court-appointed attorney.

Thomas Korosec

Edward Lee Stevenson defended himself against sex abuse charges, with disastrous results. He is pictured here in prison in Cuero, Texas.

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But Casey argues in response: "No court, no lawyer ever advised [Stevenson] that his bail would not be forfeited and that he would not be placed back in jail if he requested that the court appoint him an attorney."

Fort Worth defense attorney Tim Moore says Casey's argument is interesting, but he doesn't give it much of a chance. "With our appeals courts, he's probably out of luck," says Moore, pointing to the pro-prosecution bent of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in recent years. "If they won't let guys out when their DNA shows they weren't at the scene, you have to wonder in a case like this."

Ima Jean Ely says Casey has admitted to her that a new trial is a long shot, but she's willing to pay for him to take it through the state appeals process. And Casey seems willing to take it beyond that--to the federal courts--if need be.

"He needs a full, fair hearing," Casey says. "He's already had a lawyer who has said, 'Pay me or I'm out of here.'"

Like many prisoners, Stevenson spends a little time with the law books these days--to pass the hours, maybe to see if the fat, brown volumes hold any secrets to his case. He sent a letter from Cuero while this story was being researched that included references to Tiberius Caesar, the U.S. Constitution, and Texas judges' oath of office.

If he was arrogant about his courtroom abilities at his 1998 trial, he isn't anymore. "This crime didn't happen. I needed a lawyer to tell the jury that," he says. "I was way out of my league."