Court-appointed attorney back on Brunette’s case

Defense attorney Mark Garver has been reassigned to defend accused dog abuser Robert Brunette seven months after Brunette fired Garver in an effort to represent himself.
Brunette was arrested in August 2008 and accused of mistreating more than three-dozen dogs at his Boulder Creek home.
He is charged with two felony counts of animal neglect and eight misdemeanors of animal neglect and improper care.
After being released on bail with a court order not to return to his home, he was allegedly seen on his property and arrested again.
In October 2008, Brunette fired Garver, his court-appointed attorney, in order to represent himself. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that Brunette spent hours in the law library in the county courthouse researching his case.
Brunette’s trial by jury had been scheduled to begin twice this spring, but both times Brunette asked for more time to prepare his case.
Then on Monday, May 18, Brunette requested an attorney to represent him for a second time — and it was Garver who was given the job.
“I’ve always gotten along with Bob, and I like Bob,” Garver said after finding out that he had been reassigned to the case.
“I always felt like the case was very overcharged,” Garver said, “and he was innocent and that he’s been unfairly singled out and unfairly treated.”
The jury trial has been rescheduled for Sept. 8.