Following an afternoon hearing held, in large part, behind closed doors and with onlookers banished from the premises, Judge Nathaniel Cousins deemed that accused bombmaker Ryan Chamberlain won't be changing addresses anytime soon.
Even federal prosecutors and FBI agents were asked to leave the courtroom during deliberations regarding an assessment of Chamberlain's in-custody treatment. But, after half an hour, Cousins deemed Chamberlain will remain in lockup at 850 Bryant Street, where his attorney, federal public defender Jodi Linker, earlier lamented that the extent of his in-custody treatment is a perfunctory visit from an observer who asks the inmate
if he plans to commit suicide that day.
Following the hearing, Linker further expressed her misgivings in the corridor: "He needs treatment, not custody," she said.
Federal prosecutor Philip Kearney last week objected to releasing Chamberlain from custody in the strongest possible terms. He charged the onetime San Francisco political operative had bought three types of deadly toxins from black-market websites; had a ready-to-go homemade bomb within his apartment; and was a flight risk who had previously been arrested six times in three states.
Linker today said Kearney is "painting an incomplete picture of the evidence." She admitted she doesn't yet possess all the evidence "but, even with what I've seen, it's not a complete picture."
While Chamberlain's family and well-wishers earlier started a fund-raising drive for a private legal team, Linker said that they have opted to entrust Chamberlain's defense to her.
She'll next appear in court June 30, when Chamberlain's custody status and mental health are once more revisited.
