Major Developments in the Karmelo Anthony Case: Free Legal Counsel Approved, Tough Judge Assigned Amidst Supporter Outcry
We’re bringing you significant updates today on the Karmelo Anthony case, as a judge has approved his request for a state-appointed lawyer despite half a million dollars in donations, and a new, notoriously tough judge has been assigned to the case. This news has led to many supporters expressing their outrage and seemingly turning against Karmelo Anthony and his family.
Supporters React to Claim of No Funds
When news broke last Friday that Karmelo Anthony and his team had applied to essentially claim they had no money for his defense, many people, including some of his strongest supporters, were understandably angry about that. While some initially suggested this was standard practice, we confirmed with multiple lawyers that telling a judge under oath that you’re broke – or perjuring yourself – “just in case” is not standard practice.
Supporters have voiced their frustration, questioning what happened to the over $532,000 raised. One prominent supporter, Drew’s Daddy, demanded to know where the money went, stating, “Ain’t no way lawyer fees and all that extra cost that much”. Others, like Camila Anthony, expressed a belief that the family had “blown through” the $500,000+ donated by April and were now “grifters” asking for an additional $1 million. Our channel has observed the fundraising efforts have nearly completely dried up, with only small amounts like $10 or $25 coming in over several hours, indicating a significant loss of goodwill.
Initial claims from supporters suggested the money was spent on a new house and an Escalade. However, in the interest of fairness, we must clarify that we have seen no evidence that the large house they were in was purchased; our sources indicate they were renting it and are likely still renting in Frisco. Regarding the Escalade photograph, Karmelo Anthony’s father reportedly worked at a Chevy or Cadillac dealership, making it entirely possible it was a leased vehicle or a perk of his job, with no proof indicating fundraising money was spent on it. Despite these clarifications, it remains “very odd” that after raising half a million dollars, the judge was told there was no money.
State Approves Taxpayer-Funded Defense
In a surprising turn, Karmelo Anthony’s request for an indigent defense was approved, as claimed by his advocacy group. This decision means your tax dollars will now be paying for his defense.
The approval for indigency hinges on the fact that when applying for this status, relatives’ income or funds are not considered. Even though people donated money specifically for Karmelo, and his mother supposedly controls the fund, Karmelo himself, as a minor, is technically considered “broke” and unable to afford representation because the money is not in his name.
He is unlikely to receive a salaried public defender. Instead, a private attorney will be appointed and paid by the county using taxpayer funds. These attorneys can request payment as a flat fee or hourly, typically around $100 an hour in court and $75 an hour out of court, though higher rates may be approved for complex, big charges like this. For context, fee schedules for indigent defense can range significantly:
- Capital offense (life on the line): $150 an hour
- Capital (non-life on the line): $100 an hour
- First-degree felony: $1,000 flat rate
- Second-degree felony: $750 flat rate
- Trials: $1,000
- Pre-trial: $3,500
- Appeals: Additional funds
Judge John Roach: A Tough New Reality for Karmelo Anthony
Adding another layer of complexity to the case, it has been assigned to 296th District Court Judge John Roach. This is significant news for the case, as Judge Roach is known to be an extremely tough, no-nonsense conservative Republican with a history of being exceptionally hard on crime.
Judge Roach’s past rulings suggest a challenging road ahead for the defense:
- He sentenced a former Plano West student, Aziz Yarand, to 20 years in prison for plotting a school event.
- He has shown no leniency towards those who harm kids, in one instance sentencing an offender to life in prison without parole.
- His term ends in December 2026, which is also an election year for him, potentially influencing his approach.
This assignment is likely the worst possible judge Karmelo Anthony could have received, especially for those seeking justice in this case. Judge Roach also has the authority to overturn the magistrate’s decision to reduce Karmelo Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000, meaning he could reinstate the full bond amount.
Karmelo Anthony’s arraignment is scheduled for July 18, 2025, which is only about 20 days away, but his trial dates are not likely to be set until 2026 or later. We will continue to provide daily coverage of this developing situation. Make sure to leave a like on this update and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss any breaking news on this topic.
