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Board ratifies limited-services agreement with investigator for indigent defense cases
Summary
The Graham County Board approved a limited-services contract with investigator Larry Rivas for criminal indigent-defense investigations when a judge grants defense-funded investigation. The county budgeted $20,000 for the service and used about $6,000 last year.
Graham County supervisors ratified a fiscal-year limited-services contract with investigator Larry Rivas to provide defense investigations in extraordinary criminal indigent-defense cases when ordered by a judge.
Mindy, speaking for Superior Court, said the county attempted to find a local investigator but most locally qualified individuals already assist the prosecution. She said Rivas, who works with Northwest Investigations, provides services in serious cases such as homicide and major felonies when judges grant investigative assistance for indigent defendants. Rivas charges $70 an hour plus travel; Mindy said he tries to minimize travel charges and prorates travel when he must go to other counties.
Mindy told supervisors the county used just over $6,000 of investigator funding last year and budgeted $20,000 for the line item. She said the expenditure is required by statute when assistance is granted. A supervisor moved to ratify the agreement; the board approved the motion.
Action and funding: The contract was ratified and the county will continue to use the investigator on judge-approved indigent-defense matters. The transcript records the contract will be funded from the county general fund and that the amount used in the previous year was about $6,000 against a $20,000 budget.
