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Entertainment Deals Could Be Paying For Casey's Defense

Posted: 5:37 pm EST January 19, 2009Updated: 3:54 pm EST January 20, 2009

Eyewitness News uncovered bold new allegations that secret entertainment deals could be helping to pay for Casey Anthony's defense. Sources tell Eyewitness News that someone complained to the State Attorney's Office about the funding Jose Baez is using toward Casey's defense.


RAW INTERVIEW: Legal Analyst Discusses Allegations
VIDEO REPORT: Baez Facing New Allegations
NEW MESSAGE BOARD: Justice For Caylee

Those sources told WFTV reporter Mary Nguyen the funding could be considered a major conflict of interest. Eyewitness News sources said the judge knows there's a concern about Baez's defense fund. He could decide it's baseless, but if he determines Baez did something wrong he could remove him from the case.

Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, has repeatedly avoided all questions about who is paying for his services, but sources told Eyewitness News the State Attorney's Office received at least one complaint, a complaint that Baez may have made a contingent deal with entertainment interests that means he gets paid based on the outcome of the case, which is banned by the Florida Bar.

Eyewitness News does know the defense has already received around $200,000, but the terms were unclear.

"Because of the nature of this case and, creatively, the abundance of the rumors of the source of the attorney fees," WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer told Eyewitness News (watch full interview). "This court will probably make an inquiry that they'll err on the side of caution."

It's not clear how the judge will handle it. Sheaffer said the judge will likely look into Baez's funding source to make sure there is no conflict of interest and to prevent an appeal.

"It is to make sure the lawyer is representing the client's best interest and not considering the interest of who's paying the attorney's fee," Sheaffer said.

A spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office said the state is aware of the allegations. Prosecutors want to know who is paying his fees and how much money has been spent. The State Attorney's Office spokesperson also said the court is aware of the complaints and it will be up to judge to decide how to handle it.

Jose Baez's spokesperson said Baez has not made any contingent deals. He said Baez is involved with coordinating licensing fees and deals with various production companies, but does not profit on those matters


DEFENSE SEEKING CHANGE OF VENUE HEARING

The case against Casey has been a major story in Central Florida for months, so it was expected that her defense team would try to change venues for her murder trial.

Eyewitness News found out Monday the hearing for change of venue could come within the next month.

A spokesman for Baez told Eyewitness News the motion had already been filed and they were waiting for a hearing date, but Eyewitness News was told by the Orange County court that no motion has actually been filed.


EMOTIONAL CASEY SHOWN ON "LOST" JAIL VIDEO

Late Thursday afternoon, the Orange County jail released a "lost" video of Casey Anthony being visited by her parents, Cindy and George. It was an emotional jailhouse visit from the start (watch video | images).


JAIL VISITATION: Watch Raw Video | See Images
TEAM COVERAGE: Casey Visitation; Deputy Reassigned

The visit was four months before Caylee Anthony's remains were discovered in a wooded area in the Anthonys' neighborhood. But on August 14, the Anthonys were still searching for an alive Caylee and they wanted answers from Casey.

"Can someone let me? Come on! Nobody's letting me speak. You want me to talk. Give me three seconds to say something. I'm not in control of this because I don't know what the hell is going on," an emotional and visually frustrated Casey told her parents.

Even though her daughter had been missing for more than two months, Casey said the visit with her parents made her the angriest she had ever been since the case started. That's because Cindy and George pushed her for information on Caylee's disappearance.

The "lost" tape was recorded on August 14, just moments before George yelled at a reporter who asked if he believed Caylee was still alive.

That frustration carried over during the jail visit, when Casey told her parents she didn't even want to do the video visit because the media would "have a field day with it."

"You guys expect me to have a thousand answers and I have nothing. I've been here a month," Casey said.

Casey even had a message for the mysterious Zanny the nanny.

"Just tell her that we forgive her," Casey said.

The Anthonys wanted to make sure her attorney Jose Baez had communicated how much trouble she was in.

"Well I just hope he's honestly telling you what you're up against Casey," said Cindy.

"Mom I honestly know what I'm up against. Do you know understand what I'm up against? And with keeping me here you're not helping me help myself," said Casey.

While, the answers the Anthonys wanted never came, in the end Casey told her parents Caylee would be coming home.

"Everyone wants me to have answers, but I don't know what's going on," Casey said.

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