The legal team for suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is pushing for a change of scenery for his criminal trial. Originally set for Lake County, the defense has filed a motion to move it back to Osceola County, where Lopez allegedly committed the crimes of racketeering and operating an illegal gambling enterprise. Mary Ibrahim, Lopez's defense attorney, briefly mentioned the motion for the change of venue during a pre-trial conference held via Zoom. Judge Brian Welke, who presides over the case, will hear arguments on the matter on October 14, as reported by ClickOrlando.
According to Ibrahim, the rationale behind the motion stems from the belief that a fair trial in Lake County, noted for its conservative bent, might prove problematic. However, the normal practice of seeking a venue far removed from local prejudices is flip-flopped here, given the implications brought by Lopez's title and the pervasive knowledge of the case throughout Osceola County. Neal McShane, a defense attorney not involved in the case, told ClickOrlando that he believes it's an excellent tactical move to push for the trial to return to Osceola.
Lopez has been entangled in this legal battle since his indictment in June, after a state and federal investigation unearthed his alleged involvement in a gambling operation generating over $21 million in illegal proceeds. Notably, Lopez has been out on a $1 million bond after spending three weeks in the Lake County jail, as noted by WESH.
Adding another layer to the proceedings, one of Lopez's co-defendants, Carol Cote, has already pled guilty to related charges, and in her plea agreement, she promised to "provide truthful testimony at any hearing, deposition, or trial without necessity of a subpoena, as it relates to her conduct in this matter," according to court records cited by WESH.
