Accused Jensen pastor will act as own attorney at trial
March 13th, 2009 by TCPalm.comSTUART — A jailed Jensen Beach pastor accused of bilking investors out of more than $8 million in fraudulent real estate schemes will act as his own attorney at his trial set for March 23, a judge ruled Thursday.
Rodney McGill and his wife, Shalonda McGill, were arrested in September, and charged with racketeering, first-degree grand theft, obtaining a mortgage by false representation and other counts.
But if McGill gets his way, his trial won’t take place in Martin County — a point he repeated to Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer.
“I want a change of venue from Martin County,” McGill demanded. “I’m not coming before nobody in this courtroom in Martin County. If I have to go to federal court I’ll do it, but I am not because this court is not fair.”
Judge Bauer though, was more concerned about whether McGill understood his constitutional right to counsel, and the benefit at trial of having a trained attorney represent him.
“You want to represent yourself and not have a public defender?” Bauer asked, noting McGill already had a public defender.
“Yes I do, but not in this courtroom,” McGill replied. “And my wife, I know my wife won’t want a trial here either.”
Shalonda McGill, who switched lawyers Thursday from one private attorney to another, is expected to be tried separately.
After Bauer agreed McGill could be his own lawyer, he had to continue reminding him that moving his trial wasn’t an issue the court would address before the proper legal papers were filed.
Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Todd Weicholz said they’ve been talking with Shalonda McGill about cooperating against her husband — a move that seemed to surprise McGill.
“It’s actually very common for co-defendants, even husbands and wives to have one party testify against one another,” Bauer told McGill.
“Not us sir,” he replied.
Charged with 14 felony counts, the McGills remain in the Martin County jail on $2 million bail each, jail officials confirmed. If convicted, they face up to 30 years behind bars.
The couple, formerly of Sewall’s Point, is accused of saddling investors with more than $1.15 million in mortgage loans by “flipping” properties in Martin and St. Lucie counties that the McGills sold using fraudulent loan applications.
Authorities say as the pastor of New Hope Outreach Center in Jensen Beach, McGill used his radio talk show to entice investors.
By Melissa E. Holsman, TCPalm.com
Tags: arrest, bail, court, felony, money, pastor, real estate, swindler, theft, trial, wife
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March 14th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I love it when crooks act as their own council. This is good news because it means he will be going to jail for a very long time. Typical low IQ, gold toothed street thug wrapping himself in the cloth of Christ. LET HIM ROT!!
March 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
I love the correct english “coming before nobody in this courtroom in Martin County”. At least the wife is seperating herself from this circus it seems. I am sure she is as guilty or more than he is but seems a bit brighter.