Judge slaps down ‘Cult Mom’ Lori Vallow demand for ‘private cell phone’

The attorneys for Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell appeared virtually before a judge along with Special Prosecutor Rob Wood on Thursday to address motions brought by Vallow’s attorney Mark Means.

Means argued that he has not had adequate access to his client, who is awaiting trial in on charges related to the disappearance and deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, who were both found dead in Daybell’s backyard in June.

At the hearing, Means argued that he had been at times prohibited from meeting with Vallow at the Madison County Jail in Idaho, apparently due in some part to Covid restrictions, and said he should have access to the lawyer-client conference room–without surveillance cameras running. He also asked that Vallow be given a mobile phone without internet access or texting ability so that she could better communicate with her lawyer.

As Local News 8 reports, Judge Steven W. Boyce had no objection to Means meeting with Vallow in an attorney-client meeting room according to the jail’s policies, though he will not order the jail to turn off any video recording devices during the meetings. And he denied the request to provide Vallow an attorney-only cell phone.

“I understand why that would be of convenience for you Mr. Means, but I think that goes outside the scope of what the jail policies would be,” the judge said.

The judge partially granted Means’ motion to compel: The prosecution will be required within 14 days to share with the defense team whether or not they have discussed the case with a list of witnesses in Means’ request for discovery. Chad Daybell’s attorney John Prior agreed with Means’ argument that Wood was not expediently processing discovery requests, accusing Wood of “slow-walking” his response.

Vallow and Daybell are both set to go to trial in July.

Click here to read all of CrimeOnline’s coverage of the Vallow-Daybell case. 

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