Judge issues bench warrant for Lutes
After he failed to show up for Fayette County criminal court Monday, a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of self-styled political critic Brian K. Lutes. Judge Steve P. Leskinen issued the warrant after prosecutors told him Lutes had not reported to court for his scheduled trial date. Lutes of North Union Township is charged with disrupting a public meeting, defiant trespass and a summary citation for harassment.
County Detective Lawrence Curry charged him after an Aug. 30, 2001, commissioners meeting during which Lutes reportedly told the commissioners about a news report in which a Chinese butcher, frustrated with bureaucracy, cut up four government officials with a meat cleaver.
Following his recitation of that story, Lutes reportedly told the commissioners, “It sounds like a plan to me.”
The commissioners asked Lutes to leave the meeting after he made that comment, but he reportedly refused.
Citing his right to free speech, Lutes, a failed 1999 Independent commission candidate, has professed his innocence.
This August, Lutes refused to plead guilty to disrupting a public meeting in exchange for probation. He has been present in the courthouse during criminal court week in the past months while awaiting the start of his trial.
This latest set of charges is not the first time Lutes was in trouble with the law.
Lutes and fellow commission-critic George Haggerty were each convicted of summary harassment and disorderly conduct counts for an April 2000 incident outside the courthouse. During a verbal argument between Lutes, Haggerty and Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh, Lutes poked Cavanagh.
An appeal by Lutes and Haggerty to the state Superior Court was denied earlier this year.