Virginia McMartin was denied her request to...

Virginia McMartin was denied her request to act as her own attorney and threatened to not show up in court next week, unless the “sheriffs come and drag me there.” The outburst came Friday after Los Angeles Municipal Judge Aviva K. Bobb denied the 77-year-old woman’s request and ordered McMartin’s attorney, Bradley Brunon, to continue to represent her without pay. One of seven former teachers at the Manhattan Beach school charged with 208 counts of molestation and conspiracy, McMartin had wanted to act as her own attorney because she is broke and had not paid Brunon for several months. Bobb said that she was denying the defendant’s request because “it would disrupt this preliminary hearing and deprive Mrs. McMartin of Mr. Brunon’s representation, which I believe she truly desires.” McMartin’s request had been prompted by Bobb’s refusal Wednesday to grant Brunon court-appointed status, which would have required the county to pick up his fees.