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Lauren Boebert's 19-year-old son, Tyler Boebert, retained a private lawyer to fight his felony theft charges after months of delay, which the judge overseeing the case said was "good news."
The Colorado congresswoman's son, who was 18 at the time, was arrested in late February after a "string of vehicle trespass and property thefts in Rifle," according to the Rifle Police Department. He faces 22 charges including four felony counts of "Criminal Possession ID Documents - Multiple Victims" and one felony count of "Conspiracy to Commit a Felony."
Tyler has yet to enter a plea because he has yet to have an arraignment hearing due to a hold-up in his lawyer assignment.
He failed to get a public defender or private attorney for over two months despite pressure from 9th Judicial District Judge John F. Neiley.
During a court appearance on Thursday, Tyler showed up with a private lawyer, William Trent Palmer, who will represent him moving forward.
"We have an attorney on board for you, that's good news," Neiley told Tyler on Thursday. "I anticipate we're going to need to do a little bit of a continuance so you can get up to speed, Mr. Palmer?" To which the attorney replied, "Yes, please."
Legal proceedings have been paused until July 25. "We're going to continue the case, then, so that you and Mr. Palmer can have some discussions and can continue to have discussions with the DA as well," Neiley said.
Newsweek reached out to Representative Boebert's office and Palmer's office via email for comment.
Palmer has over a decade of experience in general civil litigation and real estate practice. He also has previously clerked for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
During a court hearing for a former client of Palmer's in a separate case, 9th Judicial Judge Denise Lynch called Palmer a "very skilled lawyer" who she has seen win cases.
It is unclear who is paying Palmer's fee as Tyler previously told Neiley that he was having trouble finding a private lawyer in his price range.
"We are working to hire an attorney, but it's just been kind of hard with the prices," Tyler said at a hearing in April.
According to his website, Palmer does take on pro bono cases.
Upon Tyler's arrest, Representative Boebert told Newsweek: "I love my son Tyler, who has been through some very difficult, public challenges for a young man and the subject of attention that he didn't ask for. It breaks my heart to see my child struggling and, in this situation, especially when he has been provided multiple opportunities to get his life on track. I will never give up on him and I will continue to be there for him.
"As an adult and father, Tyler will take responsibility for his actions and should be held accountable for poor decisions just like any other citizen."
In March 2023, Bobert announced that Tyler, who was 17 at the time, was about to have a child with his girlfriend.
About the writer
Rachel Dobkin is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on politics. Rachel joined Newsweek in ... Read more