Judge denies man accused of driving into That BBQ Place new attorney

The man accused of driving drunk and crashing his car into That BBQ Place on Matlacha, killing a patron, has been denied his request for a new attorney.

Cody Curtis said his attorney Robert Hines didn’t have his best interest at heart, prompting him to write a letter to the judge asking for new representation.

Monday morning, the judge assigned to the case denied Curtis’ request for a new attorney and called Curtis’ claim non-credible.

In his letter requesting a new attorney, Curtis stated, “He [Curtis’ attorney] seems lost every time I meet him, which is rarely. He also never answers my questions.”

He goes on to write, “As I was showing him the current offer, I heard him utter under his breath that all DUI manslaughter cases deserve to rot in prison. I was offended from that point on. I’ve seen he is against me instead of helping on my side of the case. I would like to receive a new counsel.”

Curtis made an appearance in court Monday morning and for the first time, we heard him speak.

“This is a very serious case, and I know what I did was wrong. But I want someone who will fight for me, not against me,” said Curtis.

Curtis faces a DUI manslaughter charge along with other charges after investigators say he drove into outdoor tables at That BBQ Place on Matlacha in April.

Curtis is accused of killing 80-year-old Mary Lou Sharp and injuring four other people.

Sharp’s granddaughters, Danielle and Kasha Darna, did not attend court but expressed their hope for the judge to deny Curtis’ request for a new attorney.

Danielle said via text to WINK News Reporter Olivia Jea that this is “awesome news,” and Kasha said “My hopes are that NOTHING is in Curtis’s favor. He acts in denial and doesn’t wanna face the consequences of hitting the 5 and killing 1 special person.”

Investigators said Curtis’ blood alcohol level was 0.137 at the time of the crash.

WINK News spoke with Mary Lou’s granddaughter, Kasha Darna, after the hearing.

“We’re happy. We’re happy that that was the judge’s decision,” Kasha Darna said. “With the charges he is facing close to a life sentence, and it wouldn’t hurt me if he stayed there the rest of his life, you know. I hope there’s no chance for him ever to drive again.”

“She was loved and she is missed. You know, my kids miss her. We miss her, all our grandkids, all her kids, you know, a lot of friends, and she’s a very social person, and with the holidays coming, we are missing grandma for sure,” Kasha Darna said.

Investigators said Curtis was out drinking at Phuzzy’s for four hours before the crash.