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Attorney for Baseball Player Accused of Rape
your
Moves to Suppress Evidence
Eric Cordova’s attorney says his client was not read his Miranda rights prior to being
questioned by law enforcement
May your
holiday season be filled with warmth
BY JUSTIN FRANZ OF THE BEACON
The attorney for a baseball player accused of rape says statements obtained during an interview with police should be withheld as evidence because his client was not properly read his Miranda rights.
Eric Cordova’s attorney Brent Getty led a motion to suppress the statements in Flathead County District Court on Dec. 2.
Cordova, 27, was arrested on May 25 and is charged with felony sexual inter- course without consent. He pleaded not guilty in June. Originally from Los Angeles, Cordova was a pitcher for the now defunct Glacier Outlaws, an inde- pendent league baseball team that was established this spring.
In his motion, Getty argues that Cor- dova’s rights were violated because he was subjected to an interrogation with- out proper Miranda warnings. Getty is now seeking to have the entire interview suppressed at trial.
According to Getty’s motion, a Flat- head County Sheri ’s O ce detective interviewed Cordova at the Flathead County Detention Center. The interview was recorded. After getting Cordova a glass of water, the detective started to make small talk and asked what brought the Los Angeles native to the area. The two talked about baseball for a few min- utes before Cordova mentioned the charge against him. The detective said the charge “sounds pretty big” and asked if it “could be a game ender” for Cordova. The two men then brie y talk about the charge and Cordova’s lack of criminal history. The detective later said “What I’d like to do with you this morning is talk to you about what happened last night and early morning. Before we get
BRIEFS
Rape Charges Dropped in Plea Deal
A White sh man pleaded guilty to felony criminal endangerment ve months after he was accused of raping his girlfriend.
Ezequiel Gonzalez, 21, appeared at a change of plea hearing in Flathead County District Court on Dec. 10.
Gonzalez was charged with two felony counts of sexual intercourse without con- sent in August just days after he allegedly raped his “on again, o again” girlfriend in the White sh High School parking lot on two di erent occasions.
Earlier this month, Gonzalez took a deal where he would plead guilty to the reduced charge of felony criminal
and joy.
Cordova pleaded not guilty in June. A pre-trial conference is being held on Dec.
16.
Cordova was dismissed from the Gla-
cier Outlaws following his arrest. A few weeks later, the White sh-based base- ball team folded amid the collapse of the Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League.
jfranz@ atheadbeacon.com
allegedly started looking for narcotics. After not nding any narcotics, he told the female employee to get on the ground.
The man reportedly left the building on foot and may have ed the scene in an older vehicle with a loud mu er. Bell said the man was about 5-foot, 9 inches tall and had light skin. He was wearing a bandana across his face at the time of the stick up.
If anyone has information about the
incident they are encouraged to call the
Lake County Sheri ’s O ce at (406)
Eric Cordova appears in Flathead County District Court earlier this year. BEACON FILE PHOTO
into that I do need to advise you of your rights.”
According to court records, Cordova was at a bar in downtown White sh with a friend on the night of May 24 when they met two women. After a few drinks, one of the women invited Cordova’s friend back to her home and all four people left the bar. At the home, the second woman went into her room, shut the door and went to sleep fully clothed. Court records state that she made it clear she was not interested in Cordova that night.
The woman woke up and her pants were pulled down and Cordova was having sex with her, according to court records. The woman slapped Cordova and began to scream she was being raped. The two other people were just outside the home and told police o cers they heard her scream.
endangerment. The second count of sex- ual intercourse without consent was dropped. Gonzalez will be sentenced in February.
Authorities Looking for Man Who
Held Up Assisted Living Facility at
Gunpoint
Lake County authorities are looking for a man who allegedly tried to rob an assisted living facility in St. Ignatius on Dec. 7.
According to Sheri Don Bell, the man went to Closer to Home Assisted Living shortly after 10 p.m. and pulled a gun on an employee. The man demanded to see where the medications were kept and
The woman called 911. When Flathead County sheri ’s deputies arrived at the home, Cordova was present, as well the woman and the two others. The woman was taken to the hospital where a foren- sic exam was administered. Cordova was taken to the Flathead County Detention Center where he allegedly acknowledged that he gotten into bed with the woman after she went to sleep.
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DECEMBER 16, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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