No Charges for Lawyer Who Showed Dud Grenade at Trial
A Kansas lawyer who used a dud grenade to make a point in closing arguments won’t face criminal charges.
The Kansas Attorney General’s office revealed in a letter that it won’t be charging lawyer Sam Kepfield, according to the Associated Press. The letter by Deputy Attorney General Barry Disney said he does not believe Kepfield “had the specific intent to reduce the jury to terror” when he showed the grenade during a trial in Reno County.
Press reports at the time said Kepfield set the grenade on a ledge in front of jurors, then moved it to the prosecutor’s table. He reportedly pulled the pin from the grenade and asked jurors, “Are you afraid now?”
Kepfield said he was trying to demonstrate the meaning of “imminent threat” in the trial of his client for forgery and theft. Kepfield claimed his client committed the crimes because she had been threatened. Jurors convicted the defendant after deliberating for only 15 minutes.
Disney said Kepfield did not act in malice or out of self-interest during the grenade incident because he was a voluntary appointed lawyer working at reduced cost.
