Casey Anthony: Does Jose Baez’s foreclosure problem matter to Casey Anthony case?
Do Jose Baez’s “financial woes” matter to the Casey Anthony case?
WESH-Ch. 2 raised the issue tonight in what it billed as an exclusive report.
“My personal affairs are just that — personal,” Anthony defense attorney Baez said in a text message to WESH.
He may have a point: Don’t his lawyering skills matter more? What do you think?
WESH’s Bob Kealing reported that Baez is in danger of losing his Kissimmee home and that a foreclosure document shows that he owes $655,000. Creditor U.S. Bank claims Baez hasn’t paid the mortgage since Sept. 1, 2009, Kealing reported — a startling detail.
Baez said the foreclosure won’t affect his representation of Anthony, Kealing said.
Kealing turned to two attorneys for analysis:
Criminal defense attorney Jeff Deen said a complex capital case could strain a small defense firm like Baez’s. ”He has to use and maximize every single asset he has left,” Deen said.
Real estate attorney Matt Englett said Baez would be wise to default and move on rather than keep the house. (Englett, a familiar TV presence, makes that point in his TV commercials.) Englett said it’s likely that Baez will work a deal with creditors.
But how important is Baez’s mortgage to the Anthony case? She is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter, Caylee.
Attorney Deen put the issue in perspective, telling Kealing that when the Anthony saga became a capital murder case, Baez should have asked: Am I qualified? Can I afford it?
In the report, Kealing recounted the money troubles of people associated with the Anthony case. Her parents, George and Cindy Anthony, have faced losing their home, too. Kealing reminded viewers that Casey’s $275,000 defense fund is gone. In a memorable visual, the words “275,000 Anthony defense fund” evaporated on screen.
WESH also reminded viewers that meter reader Roy Kronk, who found Caylee’s remains, will be deposed by the defense on Friday.