Jail Escape Suspect Asks to Be His Own Attorney

Ignoring concerns from his attorney and his family, the man accused of eluding authorities for more than two weeks after escaping from Los Angeles County Jail last month told a judge Tuesday that he wants to represent himself in court.

Kevin Jerome Pullum said he wants to serve as his own attorney on the escape charges but would not mind having lawyer Dermot Givens help him.

“If he wants to stay on the case, I would . . . move for him to be co-counsel,” said Pullum, who was shackled and wore an orange jail uniform. “But I need to represent myself because things need to be done that are not being done.”

Pullum, 31, walked away from Twin Towers jail after being convicted of attempted murder. He had represented himself at the Van Nuys trial. Authorities believe he was wearing a fake badge with a picture of actor Eddie Murphy from “Dr. Dolittle 2” on it as he left through an employee exit July 6. He was apprehended July 22.

On Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Michael Kellogg told Pullum that he did not believe being a pro per defendant would be in his best interest and advised him to talk to Givens, whom his family hired to handle the case. Pullum remained firm and told the judge he still wanted to handle the case himself.

Kellogg said he would decide at a hearing Thursday whether Pullum can be his own attorney. Pullum told the judge he wanted to get the case going as soon as possible, saying, “I am in a bad position.”

Givens said he believes Pullum wants to represent himself to gain certain privileges in jail, such as access to a law library. But Givens said he thought his client would be at a disadvantage if he represented himself and doubted the Sheriff’s Department would give Pullum full pro per privileges because of his escape.

“You don’t give a person who has shot 10 people a gun,” Givens said. “He probably won’t have access . . . because escaping is what he is allegedly on trial for.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Keri Modder said she anticipates challenges in the case if Pullum represents himself. “[Pro per defendants] are not trained lawyers, so a lot of the time is spent figuring out what the pro per wants to do,” she said.

Pullum’s girlfriend, Carmen Ford, said he would be crazy to represent himself. “He’s done it before and he has lost,” she said.