Texas lawyer linked to murder plot wants to defend himself in court

Texas lawyer Seth Sutton, who was allegedly involved in a plot to murder a fellow attorney, has made a bid to defend himself in court alongside his lawyer, reported the American Bar Association Journal.

Sutton filed a motion to permit a “hybrid representation” setup for his trial, which commences next month. Under the arrangement, he would be represented by himself and Dallas lawyer Clint Broden, according to KWTX.

Sutton, who is based in Waco, was arrested for solicitation of capital murder. An indictment in August 2020 alleged that Sutton hatched a plot to murder attorney Marcus Daniel Beaudin. Beaudin’s ex-wife, lawyer Chelsea Tijerina, was reportedly Sutton’s co-conspirator.

Beaudin reportedly tried to fondle a teenage girl related to Sutton and was charged with indecency back in June 2021, as per reports by KCENTV.com and the Waco Tribune-Herald.

According to Sutton’s defense motion, an undercover police officer infiltrated the Red Mouse Cult, Sutton’s motorcycle club, and pushed the lawyer to “verbalise his fantasy of killing this sexual predator”, KWTX wrote. The defense motion went on to state that the cop was ordered to halt the investigation but carried on anyway.

However, a prosecution motion countered that the undercover officer was authorised to resume the probe after Sutton made mention of murdering Beaudin. The lawyer met the cop at a bar, where they talked about acquiring an untraceable gun. Sutton then gave the officer US$300.

Sutton claimed that he did not initiate such a discussion. He was bailed out of jail and is currently still a practising lawyer.

Tijerina was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2021.