As the Sept. 30 deadline is fast approaching in Scott Cheever’s 2018 appeal case, his attorney requested a 90-day extension on Monday, Sept. 8.
Cheever was sentenced to death row for killing Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels in 2005 as Samuels was trying to serve a search warrant. Cheever was convicted of capital murder in 2007. He was also sentenced to over 700 months in prison for attempted capital murder, manufacturing methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture meth.
The 2018 civil case was filed by Cheever, noting he had ineffective counsel during his trial, after multiple unsuccessful appeals since his conviction.’
The extension was filed by his current attorney. Brianna Harris filed a motion for extension of time to file findings of fact and conclusions of law and written proffer of evidence. The motion states that staffing shortages at the Kansas Capital Habeas Office, along with anticipated maternity leave, have caused a delay in her ability to focus on the case. It was also noted that lead counsel Paul Oller was placed on indefinite administrative leave less than a week after she returned from leave in Mid-August.
As of Monday morning, the court hadn’t made a ruling on her motion for continuance.
