This was on Frugals, but important enough to share again here:
Dear fellow citizen,
My name is Edgar Steele. I am a lawyer with offices in Sandpoint, Idaho and the San Francisco Bay Area. You have provided me your email address in connection with my involvement in the current McGuckin family "standoff" in Sagle, Idaho. I apologize for not having responded to you immediately, but I have been preoccupied with developing the many civil issues involved in the McGuckin case.
As it happens, the McGuckin house is just up the road from my mine, here in Sagle. They have been a reclusive family (there is nothing wrong with that), so I never met them before JoAnn McGuckin was arrested this past week for "felony child endangerment." In a very real sense, they are neighbors of mine, so I would have offered them my help even if I had not been asked to do so by several people.
This is quite literally breaking news: The local authorities have just persuaded the children who were holed up in the family home to come out and have spirited them away to an unknown location. I am delighted this has ended without any injury to any person. Now we can move on to consideration of what is happening to this family by keeping their mother and her children separated since just a couple of days after they buried their husband and father. Of course, there is also the matter of the property that was taken by the county for only about $ 8,000 in back taxes....
As reported in the press release reproduced below, which I read to the media assembled in Garfield Bay earlier today, I withdrew from active representation yesterday afternoon because I was suddenly denied access to my clients. You see, if I were to continue, I would have had to share my files with the fellow who claimed to be her sole contact representative, the court-appointed lawyer. Also, I would have had my efforts directed and controlled by him. He didn't retain me, JoAnn did. As I am sure you appreciate, I will not be held accountable in this case to anybody whose last name is not "McGuckin."
Please understand this: I have not abandoned the McGuckins, however, and will immediately renew my representation of any family member, of any age, who personally asks me to do so...and at no charge.
As it now stands, I will continue to speak out about the outrageous charges lodged against Mrs. McGuckin and the outlandish bail amount which prevents her release from jail.
Thank you for your interest.
-ed
Edgar J. Steele
Attorney at Law
102 South Fourth Avenue, Suite C
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
Admitted in Idaho, Oregon, Washington & California
Facsimile: (208) 265-5329
Telephone: (208) 265-4153
email:
[email protected]