A Grand Junction attorney representing a convicted murderer – who claims his initial public defender provided ineffective counsel – failed to appear for a scheduled hearing last week.

Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker was set to hear oral arguments in the Luther Hampson murder case on Wednesday, April 15, but Hampson’s new court-appointed attorney Brad Junge failed to appear.

“It’s bothersome that he’s not here to put in the defendant’s two cents,” Walker said.

Currently serving a 25-year prison sentence, Hampson contends that public defender Justin Bogan provided him with ineffective legal counsel after his arrest. Last week’s proceedings would have determined if Bogan should be required to turn over his case files to Junge.

A new hearing date is expected to be decided next week.

Junge has reportedly reviewed and copied portions of Bogan’s case files, but the public defender’s office in Durango maintains custody of the defense documents. Bogan has opposed releasing the files.

Currently in custody at the Freemont Correctional Facility near Canon City, Hampson, 30, wasn’t present at last week’s hearing.

To avoid a possible life sentence, Hampson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges in 2013 in connection to the beating death of 27-year-old Jonathan Hayes of Dolores. Hikers reportedly found the victim’s body off County Road T on Jan. 14, 2012, a week after he was last seen alive.

According to court records, Hayes sustained six blunt-force impacts to the face, and his throat was sliced with a razor blade. Medical records indicate he died a slow death. The murder weapon was never recovered.

Sentenced to 25 years, Hampson will become eligible for parole in 2029. His estimated release date is 2036.

tbaker@cortezjournal.com