The intrigue over who will serve as accused kidnapper Nancy Garrido's attorney continued Thursday as a judge in Placerville appointed a new attorney to replace the one he removed last week.
Veteran defense attorney Stephen A. Tapson was appointed Thursday to represent Garrido at least until a hearing on the matter is held Nov. 30 in El Dorado Superior Court.
Reached at his office Thursday, Tapson confirmed he had been appointed and, when asked if he planned to remain as Garrido's attorney through the end of the case, said, "I don't know, but we'll see."
Garrido's previous court-appointed attorney, Gilbert Maines, was removed by Judge Douglas Phimister last week in a closed hearing after the judge received "confidential information," court records state. Maines has not responded to requests for comment and has posted a notice on his office Web site asking not to be contacted by the media.
The nature of the confidential information and the reason for Maines' removal are not explained in the documents, which note that records of the hearing were sealed.
But court documents filed Thursday indicate the judge received an envelope Tuesday from Maines marked "Confidential Eyes Only Hon. Judge D. Phimister from G. E. Maines."
The documents also indicate that the judge read a memo and declaration from Maines, then denied his request to continue as Garrido's lawyer.
Instead, Phimister appointed Tapson and indicated he had informed the El Dorado County jail of the change so Tapson could contact Garrido there.
Garrido, 54, is accused along with her husband, Phillip, 58, of kidnapping Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991 when she was 11, and holding her captive for 18 years. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to rape, kidnapping and other charges that could send them to prison for life.
Maines was appointed in August to represent Nancy Garrido and gained notice when he appeared on network television shows discussing the case and her state of mind.
He also created a blog on his Web site, maineslaw.com, providing updates on the case. The site did not address his removal or last week's hearings.
Call The Bee's Sam Stanton, (916) 321-1091.
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