Judge denies gag order in case of 2 ex-Blount County jailers charged with inmate’s murder

A Blount County judge has officially denied a request to impose a gag order in the high-profile case involving two former jailers charged with the murder of an inmate.

Joseph Evans, 26, and Liletzy Valdez-Carbajal, 19, are facing murder and first-degree assault charges stemming from the death of 23-year-old Arthur P. Morse. Morse, who was being held on a DUI charge, died on Feb. 6 after suffering a medical emergency while in custody.

Allegations of Abuse

Court documents claim the former jailers subjected Morse to a series of abusive actions while he was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. Authorities allege the pair repeatedly used a Taser on Morse while he was unable to stand or walk. Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland stated during a recent hearing that Morse had exhibited signs of a medical crisis for four days, including vomiting dark fluids and an inability to care for himself, yet the jailers allegedly opted to punish him for these symptoms instead of providing medical aid.

Prosecutors contend that Evans and Valdez-Carbajal forced the ailing inmate to mop the booking area, placed him in a restraint chair, and repeatedly deployed stun guns against him. Valdez-Carbajal is accused of actively participating in the assault on an individual who, according to the state, posed no threat.

Legal Battle Over Publicity

The legal teams for the defendants, J. Robert Bentley and Dave Mattson, argued for a gag order, claiming that inaccurate and inflammatory media coverage could jeopardize the right to a fair trial. However, District Attorney Pamela Casey successfully argued that such an order would be redundant.

Casey emphasized that the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct already govern public disclosures, and stated the state does not intend to release information outside of official court records. Judge Gregory Reid agreed with the prosecution, concluding that existing ethical rules were sufficient to manage the proceedings.

Both defendants previously appeared before Judge Reid earlier this month for an Aniah’s Law hearing, where each was granted a $75,000 bond.