A 24-year-old man allegedly found stabbing one of his roommates in a bathtub is attempting to direct his court case from his jail cell.
Assistant Public Defender Franklin Roberts was assigned to the case of Andrew James Helderman shortly after his March 15 arrest, but Helderman has taken it upon himself to file numerous motions — including one to remove his court-appointed attorney.
According to the district public defender’s office, Roberts is off the case.
Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judge John F. Lakin denied Helderman’s motions and, on Oct. 7, set an Oct. 29 status conference to address Helderman’s filings.
Helderman, who lived with two roommates in the 300 block of Clark Drive in Holmes Beach, is charged in two felony cases.
The first charge is premeditated first-degree attempted murder — upped by the prosecution from an initial second-degree charge — in the stabbing of a female roommate, and aggravated assault against his male roommate.
The second case stems from illegal firearm charges filed March 21 after HBPD learned Helderman, a felon from Glades County sentenced to six years in state prison, had constructed a “bang-stick” or “zip gun” out of metal tubes, sometime between March 12 and March 13. The weapon is capable of firing a 12-gauge shotgun round, according to the police report.
An affadavit by the male victim described Helderman as “looking crazy” as he stabbed his female roommate multiple times.
At one point, the male victim began striking Helderman with a shower curtain rod, causing part of his ear to fall off, according to reports.
In the affidavit, the male victim states, “As he began to act like he was going to kill her I ran out and dialed 911. Then I ran back into the bathroom and begged Andrew to please let her go and take me.”
HBPD police officers arrived and observed the woman with a knife in her neck. Officers apprehended Helderman at gunpoint, according to police reports.
In March, Helderman pleaded not guilty in both cases — a plea entered by Roberts.
Since then, according to the court website, Roberts sent out discovery notices, requesting the depositions of numerous witnesses, including the roommates.
In Helderman’s Oct. 3 motion to replace his attorney, the defendant claimed Roberts had not responded to his attempts to reach him, alleging a six-month lapse in communication.
Four days later, Lakin struck Helderman’s request to replace Roberts because Helderman failed to sign the paper.
The judge also denied Helderman’s five motions in May, as well as his September motion to compel documents from the prosecution, reasoning that Roberts was still his counsel of record.
Lakin warned Helderman against filing “meritless or unauthorized pleadings” and that he may prohibit such filings if they continue.
Assistant State Attorney Darlene Ragoonanan acknowledged Helderman was filing motions and the judge was denying them, but said she didn’t know what the judge wants to address at the motion conference.
Helderman is being held in Manatee County jail on $166,500 bond.
He faces life in prison if convicted on the premeditated attempted murder charge.
In addition to a 2 p.m. Oct. 29 motion conference, a 9 a.m. Oct. 27 docket sounding for Nov. 10 and Nov. 21 trial periods is scheduled at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.