Blake Aide Gets Outside Counsel

A Los Angeles judge appointed a lawyer Monday to advise Robert Blake’s co-defendant about potential problems with allowing the actor to pay his legal fees.

Over defense objections, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lloyd M. Nash named attorney Steven D. Sitkoff as an independent counsel for Blake’s bodyguard, Earle Caldwell.

Prosecutors had asked Nash to remove Caldwell’s attorney, Arna H. Zlotnik, because her financial relationship with Blake “undermines her independence of judgment and casts doubt on the integrity of all proceedings against her client.” Blake is paying Zlotnik, and he posted $1-million bail for Caldwell, who filed a document last week asking Nash to permit Zlotnik to represent him.

Blake, 68, and Caldwell, 46, were arrested last month and charged in the 2001 fatal shooting of Blake’s wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, 44, outside a Studio City restaurant.

Authorities allege that Blake shot Bakley. He has been charged with murder, two counts of soliciting someone to kill her and conspiracy. Caldwell, who has been charged with conspiracy, is accused of helping Blake prepare for the slaying. If convicted, both men face life in prison. They have pleaded not guilty.

Nash said he was reluctant to take Zlotnik off the case. He said he wanted a court-appointed lawyer to meet with Caldwell before he makes his decision.

Zlotnik objected to the judge appointing Sitkoff to advise Caldwell, but she did not offer any reason.

Attorney Stephen Yagman, who said in court that he represents Caldwell and Zlotnik, said he will ask Nash to assign someone else to advise Caldwell.

In court, Nash also warned Blake’s attorney, Harland W. Braun, about “mudslinging” inside the Van Nuys courtroom. “I want everyone to be civil in this case,” he said.

He also denied a motion to stop Braun from employing a private investigator who prosecutors say is a witness in their case against Blake, best known for his role on the 1970s television series “Baretta.”

Nash said that on June 18 he will consider another bail motion for Blake, who is being held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles. The judge denied a similar motion earlier this month.

Braun has asked Nash to release Blake on $1-million bail, with the condition that the actor wear an electronic anklet so authorities can monitor his whereabouts.

Braun accused prosecutors of alleging the special circumstance that Blake was lying in wait for Bakley solely to keep his client held without bail.