It was supposed to be a sentencing hearing, but instead it turned out to be another change of representation for a Buffalo man facing up to 15 years in prison.
Authorities say 22-year-old Arthur Jordan threatened police with a gun during a traffic stop made to get information about Jordan's Facebook posts. Those included "Let's Start Killin Police Let's See How Dey Like It" posted in response to recent shootings by police across the country.
Thursday in Erie County Supreme Court, Jordan's attorney told Judge Penny Wolfgang that she and Jordan had had an irreconcilable "rift" and that Jordan has asked for a new attorney.
After getting confirmation from Jordan, Judge Penny Wolfgang agreed to the request.
"We're going to assign an attorney to represent you. If, in the meanwhile, you are able or your family retains an attorney, that will be fine," Wolfgang said. "We are going to assign Mr. Brian Parker, who is an attorney on the assigned counsel list, to represent you and we're going to adjourn the matter."
Jordan faces separate federal charges for the threatening of police officers on social media.
Prosecutors who unveiled their case said they had surveillance video showing two city police officers taking the gun away from Jordan in the cell phone store in which the arrest was made. After reviewing the evidence, Jordan and his lawyer agreed to a guilty plea, without the case going to a grand jury.
"We take them all seriously but here, we have allegations that this defendant, carrying an illegal handgun, had issued threats to harm police officers. In this day and age, we take all those threats seriously. The violence against police officers is unpredictable, nationwide," Flaherty said.
Jordan has changed attorneys before. He is scheduled to be in federal court for threats against the police on November 10. He is scheduled to be back before Wolfgang on the weapons charge November 15.
