The courtroom in the Alachua County Courthouse was in a low murmur as one of the day's defendants, Kenneth Christian, shuffled in.
As he approached the lectern, Christian turned his back on a man already standing behind it – his attorney, Lloyd Vipperman. Christian wore a smile as Vipperman told circuit court Judge David Kreider that his client is being “uncooperative.”
His court appearance, a case-management hearing, was held Tuesday afternoon to schedule a trial date for Christian, charged with robbing PNC Bank at 1807 NW 13th St. in Gainesville — an act authorities say was caught on surveillance video on March 28, 2012.
Christian, 34, was arrested in June 2012 in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the Gainesville Sun reported. Along with robbery, he faces a felony charge of possessing a weapon as a convicted felon, according to court records.
Vipperman said he believes Christian’s behavior – turning his back and smiling – was directed at him because he’s trying to have him relieved as his attorney.
“He wanted a different lawyer,” Vipperman said, adding that the request first came a few court appearances ago.
Vipperman said he is unsure why Christian is unhappy with him but that requests for new lawyers happen often with defendants. “They want some kind of relief,” he said.
But, Vipperman said, it’s in Christian’s best interest to cooperate and talk to him, especially because his client is facing life in prison.
Another pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 16, and the final trial date is set for April 4.
“I would hope he has an invested interest in this,” Vipperman said. “He’s the one that would be doing life.”