Judge Grants Prosecution Request In Casey Case

A judge Thursday granted the prosecution’s request for a transcript of a hearing last August.

The state wanted the full transcript of that hearing, because one of Casey's former defense attorneys, Todd Macaluso, proclaimed her innocence in court.

So far, prosecutors have not said why they want the report.

Macaluso left the defense team about two months ago, because of a disciplinary issue with the California Bar.

BOMBSHELL REVELATION A BUST

One of the bombshell revelations from Casey Anthony's jailhouse conversations turned out to be a bust. WFTV spent two days analyzing Casey's newly-released letters (read them) and jail conversations to see what the documents will really mean for her case.

CASEY JAIL LETTERS (explicit): Read Them All VIDEO REPORT: Bombshell A Bust?

The one conversation getting the most attention was from one of Casey's jail friends. She revealed information no one would have known except for Caylee's killer. It may not be a smoking gun, but it's certainly explosive.

Of the more than 800 pages of letters and documents released, page eight and nine hold the most explosive statements that are sure to be looked at very closely by both prosecutors and Casey's defense. They’re not buried in the pages and pages of Casey's own letters, but instead statements made by Casey's pen pal, Robyn Adams, to investigators that could be the most explosive part of the new information.

“The best part of this witness testimony and the most damning is apparently confided to her by Casey Anthony,” WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said.

Adams claims, in December 2008, the day investigators found Caylee's remains, Casey told her about the trash bag and a blanket the remains were wrapped in; it's information only investigators and the killer would have known about.

Sheaffer says prosecutors will say the letters show Casey confided in Adams and her statements are believable, but it may not be the bombshell that will make the case. The defense will attack Adams on the stand.

“As a convicted felon, she will have credibility problems right out of the gate,” Sheaffer said.

Adams was convicted for setting up a marijuana drug operation with her husband. The defense will also argue, since Adams didn't share the information until this year, she could have learned about it from the media and embellished the story, perhaps to get a reduction in her own prison sentence.

“Make the jury believe she never said these things to this witness,” Sheaffer said.

Still, prosecutors will likely take the chance and put Adams on the stand, as long as they believe she's telling the truth.

“I would be very surprised if they did not polygraph Ms. Adams,” Sheaffer said.

CASEY'S PEN PAL COULD GET REDUCED SENTENCE

Casey Anthony's letters (read them) are the biggest development yet in the case against her. The inmate she wrote to, Robyn Adams, still has seven years to serve in a federal prison for a drug and weapons conviction.

TRANSCRIPT: Investigators Interview Robyn Adams VIDEO REPORT: Pen Pal Could Get Reduced Sentence

Instead of flushing Casey's letters as she promised, Adams mailed them to a friend for safekeeping on the chance they could clear Casey's name or convict her, or even help out Adams herself.

The letters could be Adams' ticket out of prison. Maybe not right away, but her attorney could use the letters and cooperation with prosecutors in Casey Anthony's case to try to get time off her sentence.

Inmate Robyn Adams Untreated not blurby Mug 040710 Robyn Adams Adams is Casey's pen pal, the jail inmate who saved the 500 pages of letters written by Casey. They were mailed, along with her own letters, to a friend on the outside, Tracey Nealey.

In Adams' letters, she reveals details about a seemingly depressed Casey, who was losing it behind bars and “crying all the time.”

In one letter written more than a year ago, Adams even predicted Casey "will break down and talk." But, to this day, Casey hasn't.

Even though Adams and Casey agreed to flush the letters down the toilet, Adams seems to have kept them for a reason, saying in one letter "they might hold some value in the future."

But did she blow her chance to use them? WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer doesn’t think so.

“Just handing over letters and saying, ‘I’m handing them over, I want something in return,’ at this juncture, just doesn't fly in the federal system,” Sheaffer said.

Adams is serving a 10-year federal prison sentence after she and her husband, a former Altamonte Springs police officer, conspired to build a marijuana-growing operation. But, if she cooperates in providing letters and possibly testimony, after Casey's trial is over she and state prosecutors case could go back to federal prosecutors to help Adams get years cut off her sentence.

“Since this substantial assistance is in the prosecution of a murder case, I would expect a substantial reduction in Adam's sentence by federal court,” Sheaffer said.

But Adams may have missed out on the chance to cash in by selling the letters to the tabloids. One tabloid paper told WFTV exclusive access to the letters could have fetched as much $10,000.

JAIL GUARD RELIEVED OF DUTY, STILL PAID

Orange County jail guard Sylvia Hernandez, who facilitated the exchange of letters between Adams and Casey, has been relieved of duty but will still be paid.

Jail officials stressed Hernandez has not yet been disciplined or suspended.

An internal investigation is underway.

JUDGE SAYS DEFENSE CAN'T HAVE TAPED INTERVIEW

Orange County Judge Stan Strickland ruled Wednesday that Casey's defense team cannot have a taped interview of a volunteer who searched for Caylee.

Casey's lawyers had asked the judge for access to an illegally-made recording by Joe Jordan, a volunteer with Texas EquuSearch. Jordan secretly taped a conversation with his lawyer, but later turned it over to detectives.

The judge ruled the defense can use a statement from Jordan, but said the tape is off limits.

Previous Stories: April 7, 2010: Casey’s Pen Pal Could Get Reduced Sentence April 7, 2010: Bombshell Revelation In Casey Case A Bust April 7, 2010: Inmate: Chloroform Was Used To Put Caylee To Sleep April 5, 2010: Motion Denied After Tempers Flare During Casey Hearing April 1, 2010: Casey’s Defense Accused Of Wasting Tax Money April 1, 2010: New Hearing Scheduled In Casey Anthony Case April 1, 2010: Guard Suspended In Casey Pen Pal Investigation March 26, 2010: Woman Who Claims Anthony Affair Attempts Suicide