Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Scott Peterson's Defense Team Now in Place
Aired April 24, 2003 - 07:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's defense team now in place. Three California public defenders will represent Peterson, who's accused of killing his wife Laci and their unborn son. Since his arrest on Friday, he's been living in a 6' x 9' cell at the Stanislaus County Jail.
Sheriff's Department spokesman Kelly Huston live in Modesto, California to talk about the conversations he has had so far and describe what life is like now for Scott over the past week.
Good morning to you.
I know you've had some conversations.
What does Scott want to know from you?
KELLY HUSTON, SPOKESMAN, STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Well, he's just apprehensive about what the process is. He has been since he became an inmate within our facility. But his questions are focused around how he is moved from his actual cell to either the nurse's station, to other areas or for visitation and what exactly he is afforded as far as rights within the jail system here.
And so we have been able to speak with him and detail that to him. So hopefully he knows what to anticipate now for the next couple of weeks or months.
HEMMER: Has he had any contact with other inmates?
HUSTON: No, he has not, although other inmates can talk to him by shouting from one cell to the other. He has not had any direct contact with any other inmates here and that would be customary of anybody who is in our maximum security tier. And that's how he is classified.
HEMMER: If other inmates, then, have had the opportunity to yell things across the cell block, however that's set up right now, and knowing that certain threats have been issued against him, what are the others saying to him?
HUSTON: Well, they just make catcalls and they'll say things to try to taunt him. But that's not unlike a lot of the things that go on within that tier. People that are in our maximum security area are either people who are facing serious charges like Scott or who are disciplinary problems. These are folks who don't get along with other inmates, will cause problems for our staff and just are not general population suited inmates. And so he is along a tier of folks who are our top maximum security folks that, some of which we have the most problems with within this facility.
HEMMER: Kelly, what's Scott's reaction when he hears the catcalls?
HUSTON: He doesn't have much of a reaction. I think he has had about the same demeanor since he's been here and that is he's apprehensive, a little unsure, as I think anybody would be in his situation. And it's just a matter of waiting it out and trying to figure out what's going to happen from here forward.
HEMMER: We were told when he was booked last week that he was polite and courteous. The same demeanor with you?
HUSTON: Yes. He's very polite, very courteous. If all of our inmates within the maximum security tier were as courteous and followed directions like he did, we wouldn't have as many problems as we do with those folks.
HEMMER: Do you think he's aware of the attention of the headlines across the country?
HUSTON: I can't see how he's not aware of what has been put out on the television and in the media. It's almost wall to wall coverage. And the inmates within that tier have access to televisions and they watch the news regularly. So I'm certain that -- in fact, I know they have been watching the coverage of this through the last couple of days.
HEMMER: Yes, also another question here, has he had any visitors so far?
HUSTON: The only visitors he's had is his parents. They have come twice. And every maximum security inmate is afforded the opportunity to have two visitors per week. So he has fulfilled that opportunity to take advantage of those two visits. He won't have that opportunity until next week. He's also met with his lawyer and the public defender. They, of course, can come and visit with him an unlimited amount of times.
HEMMER: Kelly Huston live in Stanislaus. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.
Thanks for sharing with us today.
Back in court again when we get into the month of May.
Thanks, Kelly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 24, 2003 - 07:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson's defense team now in place. Three California public defenders will represent Peterson, who's accused of killing his wife Laci and their unborn son. Since his arrest on Friday, he's been living in a 6' x 9' cell at the Stanislaus County Jail.
Sheriff's Department spokesman Kelly Huston live in Modesto, California to talk about the conversations he has had so far and describe what life is like now for Scott over the past week.
Good morning to you.
I know you've had some conversations.
What does Scott want to know from you?
KELLY HUSTON, SPOKESMAN, STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Well, he's just apprehensive about what the process is. He has been since he became an inmate within our facility. But his questions are focused around how he is moved from his actual cell to either the nurse's station, to other areas or for visitation and what exactly he is afforded as far as rights within the jail system here.
And so we have been able to speak with him and detail that to him. So hopefully he knows what to anticipate now for the next couple of weeks or months.
HEMMER: Has he had any contact with other inmates?
HUSTON: No, he has not, although other inmates can talk to him by shouting from one cell to the other. He has not had any direct contact with any other inmates here and that would be customary of anybody who is in our maximum security tier. And that's how he is classified.
HEMMER: If other inmates, then, have had the opportunity to yell things across the cell block, however that's set up right now, and knowing that certain threats have been issued against him, what are the others saying to him?
HUSTON: Well, they just make catcalls and they'll say things to try to taunt him. But that's not unlike a lot of the things that go on within that tier. People that are in our maximum security area are either people who are facing serious charges like Scott or who are disciplinary problems. These are folks who don't get along with other inmates, will cause problems for our staff and just are not general population suited inmates. And so he is along a tier of folks who are our top maximum security folks that, some of which we have the most problems with within this facility.
HEMMER: Kelly, what's Scott's reaction when he hears the catcalls?
HUSTON: He doesn't have much of a reaction. I think he has had about the same demeanor since he's been here and that is he's apprehensive, a little unsure, as I think anybody would be in his situation. And it's just a matter of waiting it out and trying to figure out what's going to happen from here forward.
HEMMER: We were told when he was booked last week that he was polite and courteous. The same demeanor with you?
HUSTON: Yes. He's very polite, very courteous. If all of our inmates within the maximum security tier were as courteous and followed directions like he did, we wouldn't have as many problems as we do with those folks.
HEMMER: Do you think he's aware of the attention of the headlines across the country?
HUSTON: I can't see how he's not aware of what has been put out on the television and in the media. It's almost wall to wall coverage. And the inmates within that tier have access to televisions and they watch the news regularly. So I'm certain that -- in fact, I know they have been watching the coverage of this through the last couple of days.
HEMMER: Yes, also another question here, has he had any visitors so far?
HUSTON: The only visitors he's had is his parents. They have come twice. And every maximum security inmate is afforded the opportunity to have two visitors per week. So he has fulfilled that opportunity to take advantage of those two visits. He won't have that opportunity until next week. He's also met with his lawyer and the public defender. They, of course, can come and visit with him an unlimited amount of times.
HEMMER: Kelly Huston live in Stanislaus. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.
Thanks for sharing with us today.
Back in court again when we get into the month of May.
Thanks, Kelly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
