Pullum Can Represent Himself in Escape Case

The man who is charged with escaping from Los Angeles County Jail last month and evading sheriff’s deputies for 16 days will be allowed to represent himself in court, a judge determined Thursday.

Superior Court Judge Michael Kellogg granted Kevin Jerome Pullum’s request that he act as his own attorney on the escape charges. He also relieved attorney Dermot Givens--who had been hired by Pullum’s family--from the case.

But Kellogg questioned Pullum’s legal skills and told the defendant he could ask for an attorney if he thought he was in over his head. Pullum previously represented himself on attempted murder charges and is now facing a possible sentence of 25 years to life in state prison after being convicted in the case.

During Thursday’s brief hearing, Pullum said he wanted Deputy Dist. Atty. Keri Modder taken off the case because she had worked on a prior case against him. “There is a conflict,” said Pullum. “There is a personal problem with me and Ms. Modder.”

Kellogg said the fact that Modder previously prosecuted Pullum would not present a conflict but made no final ruling on the matter.

Givens said he did not want Pullum, 31, to act as his own attorney because “no one wants to see a person commit suicide.”

The attorney said he had been informed by sheriff’s officials that Pullum would not have all of the rights of other such defendants because of his escape. Pullum is accused of making a fake ID with a picture of actor Eddie Murphy from “Dr. Dolittle 2” to walk out an employee exit July 6. “Because of this charge, his access to any written materials and paper materials will be severely restricted,” Givens said.

Pullum is due in a Van Nuys courtroom Aug. 30 for sentencing on the attempted murder conviction, and he is scheduled to return to the Criminal Courts building Sept. 6 to set the date for his preliminary hearing on the escape charges.