Attorney For Bobby Stone Hits Berke, Fletcher For Commenting On Pending Case

  • Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The attorney for Bobby Stone on Wednesday said it was "fundamentally wrong" for Mayor Andy Berke and Police Chief Fred Fletcher to comment on the case in which Mr. Stone is charged with domestic assault against his wife, Berke advisor Lacie Stone.

Attorney Lee Davis said the comments were unfair and "a disservice to the court."

Mayor Berke denied any inappropriate contact with Ms.

Stone and said Bobby Stone had made a number of false statements after his arrest for domestic assault and vandalism last Friday night.

Chief Fletcher said he and his wife had offered protection to Ms. Stone at his house and the case had been handled like any other.

Attorney Davis said, "Our intent was never to discuss private matters between Bobby and Lacie Stone in the media.  The underlying facts concerning the arrest of my client Bobby Stone on Saturday, May 21, 2016, are largely private and should remain between Mr. Stone and his wife until they are presented in court. However, the Mayor and Chief of Police  have chosen to release information now to the media.  Each person has his own motives for why they choose to release information now concerning a pending case, and the public can look at the relationships involved and decide for themselves why.

"I suspect the source for the release of this information initially came from within the Chattanooga Police Department, but I cannot say for sure that it did. I do know that it did not come from Mr. Stone or anyone representing his interests. I also know that it is highly unusual for Chief Fletcher or Mayor Berke to comment on a pending case in Hamilton County General Sessions Court before the case has been to court. I am highly concerned by these officials’ actions and their voluntary choice to publicly offer opinions about a pending court case when each of them has a personal and professional interest involved. It is not fair to Mr. Stone and it is a disservice to the court.

"What I can say on behalf of Mr. Stone to these media releases is the following. Mr. Stone was asked to leave his home early Saturday morning by Chattanooga Police and he spent the next several hours in their custody being questioned by the police about the circumstances concerning an argument that he had with his wife. Mr. Stone answered the police questions truthfully and cooperated fully. He was charged and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, May 31. Mr. Stone is not guilty of any criminal charge, but he fully acknowledges that he and his wife argued over private issues concerning their marriage. After the argument, his wife went to the home of Chattanooga Police Chief Fletcher. From there, the course of events was dictated by the police and perhaps later the mayor’s office. Mr. Stone has made no public statements concerning the specific facts of the case and will not. I ask that Chief Fletcher and Mayor Berke refrain from making further self-serving statements and allow the parties the privacy they are deserve until this matter can be fairly decided by an impartial judge. These publicly released comments that officials choose to make are clearly intended to influence the public and possibly the court. That is fundamentally wrong."

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