Lawyer: Evidence illegally gathered against Cloutier

Posted: Nov 12, 2009 11:01 AM by sleonard
Updated: Nov 12, 2009 11:01 AM

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The attorney for Lafayette businessman is claiming the evidence against Eric Cloutier in a racketeering and money-laundering case was gathered without a valid search warrant.
Attorney Daniel Stanford filed three motions asking a judge to suppress evidence against Cloutier. A hearing is set for Thursday. The state attorney general's office, which is prosecuting the
case, offered Cloutier a plea deal.
Laura Gerdes, public information officer for the attorney general's office, told The Advertiser that if Cloutier rejects the plea deal, his trial is expected to begin Jan. 25.
Cloutier was arrested in February following an investigation by state officials into the operation of Marley's Sports Bar and Karma Nightclub.
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Information from: The Advertiser, http://www.theadvertiser.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Topics: attorney, lafayette, louisianan, eric, cloutier, karma, bar, night, club, money, laundering, court, daniel, stanford, judge, evidence, Marley's, Sports, racketeering