ST. ANTHONY —- Prosecutors are strongly refuting claims made by Lori Vallow Daybell’s defense attorney and are asking a judge to issue sanctions against him.
In a response filed Wednesday, Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood and Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake claim a motion submitted by Mark Means last month contains several false statements. They argue it would be inappropriate and unethical if Means continues to serve as Daybell’s attorney because of his previous representation of her husband and codefendant Chad Daybell.
“Mr. Means in the motion has crossed the line of zealous advocacy and entered into the arena of rank accusation,” prosecutors wrote.
Lori Daybell has been in the custody of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare since being found incompetent for trial. In his motion, Means alleged she and an Idaho Department of Health and Welfare clinician watched Chad Daybell’s change of venue hearing in October. Means says at some point the clinician recommended Lori Daybell contact attorneys with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and possibly obtain legal counsel other than her state-appointed public defender Jim Archibald.
Means wrote Lori Daybell contacted church attorney Daniel McConkie, who in turn reached out to Wood.
In their response, prosecutors said Wood spoke with an attorney from the church for approximately one minute and it...
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