ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Eyewitness News has been covering the cases surrounding four suspects accused of breaking into nearly a dozen upscale homes in Central Florida and Southwest Florida.
Now there’s another delay in the case before the suspects go to trial.
Channel 9’s Julie Salomone found out the judge said he knows one of the victims who asked to be removed from the case.
Eyewitness News has also learned Frank Bower's attorney wants some evidence tossed out, including some jail house calls and statements he made to police during a recorded interview.
Bower appeared in court Wednesday.
He was arrested in 2014 with three other men accused of robbing homeowners at gunpoint in wealthy neighborhoods.
Judge Alan Apte said he knows William Kitchen, one of the victims who was allegedly targeted in an April 2014 home invasion in Windermere.
“I have never communicated with Mr. Kitchen in years. We were Rotarians together, but I need to make that disclosure to you all. If your client wants to file any motion, I’ll review any motion,” Apte said.
Bower's defense attorney filed a motion to get a new judge, and the motion was granted.
Bower's defense attorney also filed two other motions, which were placed on hold. The motions includes asking a judge to toss out statements Bower made to detectives during an interrogation. His attorney said the statements were taken illegally, but he isn’t allowed to discuss details.
“Such promises and elicit statements were made to him to induce him to make a statement against his interests,” Aikens said.
According to court documents, Bower made statements to arresting officers that Windemere was his first robbery.
No word on when a new judge will be appointed to the case.
Contact Julie Salomone for more on this story.
Cox Media Group
