Bull (2016) s03e19 Episode Script
Bounty
1 Christopher Lankford.
I'm coming for you.
I've got a gun aimed at the back of your seat.
So no more screaming.
All right? Right.
Hands where I can see 'em.
What do you-what do you want you want my wallet? You can have it.
I don't know.
You got two million dollars in there? You serious? I'm as serious as Trump's barber.
That's what you owe my client.
So unless you got that in your wallet, I'm not interested.
Now, on the count of three, we're both getting out of this car.
Do not try to run away or you will feel a sharp, sudden pain in your buttocks.
- Am I being clear? - Very.
Okay.
Here we go.
One, two, three.
Slow it down.
Slow it down.
You're doing great.
Just one more thing.
Turn around.
Feel free to stretch out.
Make yourself comfortable.
You couldn't snag him during the day? It's almost midnight.
Great doing business with you, too, Hector.
I had to wait for him to come out of his girlfriend's house.
- You got my money? - Of course I got your money.
It's in my pocket.
And that's where it's gonna stay until after I see the guy.
- Okay.
This is him? That's him.
No.
This ain't him.
Definitely not him.
My guy wears a rug.
This guy's hair's organic.
Wait a second.
Don't just walk away, come on.
He-he looks like the guy.
He was where my tipster said the guy would be.
- I I think he's the guy.
- He's not the guy.
Hector.
Hec-Hector.
Hector.
Hec Listen, listen, seriously? Seriously, you don't think that maybe he's the guy? I lent the man two million dollars.
Believe me, I wish that were him more than you do.
Okay, fine, all right.
He's not the guy.
But what-what do you suggest I do with him? That's not my problem.
Hey.
How you doing? Be right back.
I got to I got to move my car.
Okay? Thanks.
Thank you for coming.
It's been a long time.
You look great.
What are you doing in here, Trent? Are you not with the Bureau anymore? The FBI? I've been out two and a half years now.
You know that thing when you tell yourself, "Hey, I'm hanging around with bad guys, "doing lots of drugs, "getting intimate with people I'm not married to, but it's okay, it's all about the job"? Then, one day, you're taking vacation time, and you're still hanging around with bad people, still doing drugs, still sleeping with people you're not married to.
I realized that was me.
So I submitted my letter of resignation, booked three months at a rehab, and here I am.
Well, not here, but W-What about your marriage? How-how's your son? Marriage did not survive.
Surprise, surprise.
Me and my boy, we're like a a work in progress.
He's nine.
I get him one week a month.
Takes him five days to warm up to me, so the sixth day is always great.
And then the seventh, he goes back to his mom.
And h-how about you? How about your life? I hear you're working for some kind of, uh, superlawyer.
Which, frankly, is something I could use.
Well he's not superlawyer.
He's not even a lawyer, really.
But can we just start from the beginning? Why are you in here? You, uh, you got a pencil? It's quite a list.
I got a good memory.
Kidnapping.
False imprisonment.
Assault and battery, - menacing in the second degree - He pulled a gun? reckless endangerment and, lastly, assault with attempt to kill.
Let me get this straight.
He threatened the guy with a firearm and then threw him in the trunk of his car? The gun wasn't actually loaded.
Easy to say, hard to prove.
Well, the real guy the guy he thought he was throwing in his car, Christopher Lankford is under suspicion for a string of violent home invasion robberies and armed holdups.
It's not like he could just throw him in the back seat and tell him to sit still.
It was an honest mistake.
He got a bad tip.
And he's willing to make it right.
He's willing to pay for the medical bills, the-the lost wages.
And he's been doing this kind of thing for how long? What, being a bounty hunter? Or, as they call it here in New York State, a bail recovery agent? This was his first job.
Seriously? He's been licensed for over a year.
But it's hard getting started.
You need a bail bondsman to believe in you, give you a break.
So how has he been making a living since he left the Bureau? A process server, private investigator, private security detail, bodyguard.
Just waiting for his shot.
And this was it.
Thing is, he's a really good person.
He was my mentor.
Taught me everything I know.
So what is it, exactly, he wants? Help.
For maybe you to get involved? Or at the very least, point him toward someone who can get in there - and fight for him - Let me do this.
I'm heading down to the courthouse anyway.
Text me the name of the prosecutor who filed the charges, and I will try and have a conversation with him or her, see how dug in they are, but I am not holding out a lot of hope.
How long has it been since you've seen this guy, heard from this guy, thought about this guy? - At least three years.
- Great.
Then you won't hate me forever if, after I talk to the A.
D.
A.
, I pass.
Dr.
Bull? Dr.
Jason Bull I'm A.
D.
A.
Conway.
My intern gave me your message.
This is a real honor.
Ah.
A.
D.
A.
Conway.
N Nice to meet you.
I've never seen you around here before.
Uh, thanks for making the time to see me.
Well, I'm a new hire.
I started just after New Year's.
Well, I was wondering if we could discuss the charges you brought against Trent Bolton.
Will your firm be involved in his defense? I haven't quite made up my mind yet.
He's a friend of a friend.
Let's just consider this a professional inquiry.
Well, what would you like to know? I was wondering if there wasn't some understanding we could come to.
You mean a deal? A plea deal? Hypothetically.
That's absurd.
On what basis? On the basis of the facts.
At the end of the day, all that really happened here is Mr.
Bolton made an unfortunate mistake.
A mistake for which he is willing to pay.
And the victim should absolutely file suit in civil court.
Mr.
Bolton freely admits he caused harm and he stands ready - to make recompense.
- Excuse me, this man has made a lot of mistakes.
He threatened a private citizen with a gun, then struck that private citizen, rendering him unconscious, bound that private citizen, threw him in the trunk of a car, and then left him unattended at a public hospital while he was still unconscious.
I don't dispute any of that, but let's be honest here: if he had caught the right guy the guy that terrorized those people, raped and robbed them of everything they own well, I don't think the state would be wasting its time prosecuting these so-called abuses.
I think they would be celebrating him, calling him a hero.
I think Michael Bay would be making a movie about him and your boss, the D.
A.
, would be taking pictures with him.
This is a ridiculous conversation.
Can I explain the jury system to you? Are you even a lawyer? For all its virtues, it's a highly unpredictable process, and I say this as someone who's been studying it for over 20 years.
Your point? My point is that attorneys make deals.
Attorneys on both sides of the case.
Because it takes the unpredictable nature of the process and does away with it.
It is a bird in the hand.
Not to mention the money it saves the state and the people they're prosecuting.
Making a deal a good plea deal that is something that smart, seasoned attorneys aspire to.
Well, gosh.
As I just explained to you, I just got off the bus, Dr.
Bull.
How would I know any of that? And I will admit that I didn't season myself before I came in to work today.
And it would be immodest, I think, to refer to myself as smart.
So let's just cut to the chase, Mr.
Older and Wiser.
Make me an offer.
Well, with the caveat that I don't officially represent Mr.
Bolton and would have to run anything we agree on by him, I would ask that you dismiss the criminal charges and we move this case to civil court.
Okay.
And I would be willing to take the 30-year sentence that I believe he actually deserves and cut it down to 29.
Would you like me to repeat that? No, I put fresh batteries in my hearing aid this morning, I heard you just fine.
I'll see you in court, A.
D.
A.
Conway.
Well, if you decide to take the case.
Actually I just made my decision.
Mr.
Bolton.
My name is Dr.
Jason Bull.
This is Benjamin Colón.
He's a very experienced criminal attorney, and the man that I would appoint to represent you in court, should you choose to allow our firm to provide council in your case.
Should I choose? That implies I have another option, which I don't.
I'm grateful that you're here.
Grateful that Danny was able to persuade you to come.
Those bruises look fresh.
Guys had a little welcome party for me last night.
They somehow found out I used to be in the Bureau, and that always brings out the playfulness in the prison population.
We'll make some phone calls.
See if we can't get you moved to solitary or a higher-security wing.
You do understand how much trouble you're in, don't you? I spoke with the A.
D.
A.
and she's thinking she might be able to put you away for 30 years.
Look, I'm willing to do anything I can to make this right.
Pay doctor bills, anything else Danny communicated that to us and Dr.
Bull shared that - with the A.
D.
A - And she wasn't much interested.
She just wants to see you behind bars.
Now, look.
I don't know you.
Mr.
Colón doesn't know you.
We're here because Danny James says you're a good man.
20 years with the FBI seems like a pretty honorable way of making a living.
But the fact remains what you did to that fella it's pretty horrific.
And it is not gonna be an easy task to get a jury to see past it.
I get that.
But it's a rough trade, bounty hunting.
When a bail bondsman puts up money to get someone out of jail in this case, a couple of million dollars there's a contract they have to sign.
They have to agree to waive a lot of the rights we all take for granted.
Yeah, including the rights not to be handcuffed, threatened at gunpoint - and thrown into a trunk.
- Problem is, the man who agreed to all of that is not the man you attacked.
Any idea who gave you the bad tip? I'm guessing someone connected to Christopher Lankford, but No, I-I I have no idea.
And it's tough for me to investigate from in here.
Well I'm not gonna lie to you.
We'll do the best we can, but it's gonna be an uphill battle.
Like I said, I'm grateful for the help.
C-Can I ask you for one more favor? Uh, this is my ex-wife's number.
Can you give her a call? Tell her what's going on? I don't want my son to worry or to think his dad forgot him.
Sure thing.
I'll see you in court tomorrow, Mr.
Bolton.
See you in court tomorrow.
So what's on the grocery list today, boss? Frontier pragmatists.
Frontier pragmatists.
Never heard of them.
Jurors who can see that the role Trent serves in society dispensing rough but necessary justice is essential to keeping us safe.
Frontier pragmatists see the world for what it is, not how they wish it to be.
And they understand to get the job done, sometimes you need to use any means necessary.
Good morning, sir.
Says here that you are married.
Any children? - Just one at the moment.
- All right.
Okay.
Now, I don't mean to pry, but were you home when your wife went into labor? As a matter of fact, I wasn't.
I was at the office - in an important meeting.
- And how did she reach out to you phone, text? Text.
All caps.
Ah.
And then what did you do? I stood up and I said, "Excuse me, everyone.
I need to leave.
My wife's having a baby.
" That sounds about right.
And what did you do next did you run home? Well, sort of.
Home is in Queens.
So, no time to use my phone or get a ridesharing service or even take the subway.
I just hit the streets and tried to grab a cab.
And were you successful? A cab did pull over, but truthfully, didn't pull over for me.
Uh, but I didn't care.
I mean, I pushed the people that it was intended for out of the way and jumped inside and quickly closed the door behind me.
I-I felt bad, but But sometimes life happens.
Your Honor, the defense approves of this juror.
But we can't focus only on the frontier pragmatism, we need to identify jurors who would be likely to embrace our mistake of fact defense.
People who are willing to forgive those who make reasonable mistakes, regardless of the consequences.
Okay.
It is Thursday night, you go to your favorite neighborhood restaurant, you're a local there.
They treat you well, the food is good.
Prices are reasonable, many of the dishes go from ten to 12 to 14 dollars.
But the waiter comes over to your table and says there's a special that night.
Pasta with truffles.
Huh? Sounds good.
You order it, - Mmm.
You eat it, you love it.
But then the bill comes.
Turns out that special was $45.
Four times more than anything else on the menu.
What do you do? The waiter didn't tell me the price? No, but you didn't ask.
So what do you do? Do you pay the bill, do you make a fuss? I-I might make a bit of a fuss, but I'm gonna pay the bill.
I ate the food.
And since I didn't ask the price I guess it's as much my fault as it is the waiter's.
Your Honor, this juror is acceptable to the defense.
Very well, then.
We have our jury.
Let's adjourn for lunch and then commence with opening arguments.
Good morning, Dr.
Bull.
Ah, A.
D.
A.
Conway.
Frontier pragmatists, huh? I'm sorry, I've never heard that expression before.
Never mind.
Just a hunch.
I'll see you after the break.
See you after the break.
I want to talk about common sense for a moment.
What does that mean "common sense"? I think it sort of means "a shared sense.
" Ideas and understandings that we all have in common.
They're so basic.
They're so obvious.
For instance, if you're walking down the street, minding your own business, and someone accosts you, someone waves a weapon in your face, someone holds you against your will, your common sense tells you this isn't right, this shouldn't be allowed to happen.
We, as a society, can't permit whatever excuses and explanations are offered up to cloud our thinking, to distract us from what our common sense tells us is an unmistakable truth: that people should be able to live their lives without fear of strangers striking them, knocking them unconscious and holding them against their will.
It's just common sense.
Now, during the course of the trial, I'll be offering you evidence of what the accused has done.
In many ways, this really isn't necessary.
He's already admitted to it.
Of course, the defense is gonna tell you otherwise.
They're gonna try and convince you that sometimes it's okay to strike a stranger, to throw them in the trunk of your car, to leave them unconscious and alone.
They're gonna try and get you to ignore the obvious, ignore the simple truth, ignore your common sense.
Don't let them.
Thank you.
She's good.
Hmm.
This is one of several new videos taken from homes in the area that have video surveillance.
That's you, isn't it? It certainly is.
And what were you doing when you first encountered the defendant? I was leaving my girlfriend's house.
Just gotten in my car.
He was hiding in the back seat.
Told me he had a gun.
Told me to get out of the car.
Were you frightened? Very much so.
I thought he was a carjacker.
I thought I thought I was a dead man.
And what's the next thing you remember? Got out of the car, saw the gun, and then he he clocked me.
- Knocked me out.
- And then? And then, nothing.
I-I woke up in the some uh, hospital waiting room.
I looked at the clock, realized three hours had gone by, and so, you know, I called the police.
And how have you been since? Have you been able to return to work? No.
No, I haven't.
I I'm still pretty shook up.
I just took a month's leave.
Hopefully, that'll be enough to, uh, get me back to where I was.
You know.
I mean, something something like this it messes with your head.
And what is it that you do for a living? I'm a New York City firefighter.
Thank you, Your Honor.
No further questions.
You had to pick a fireman? Oh, - Bull - Well, that's that.
I mean, he's a fireman.
Women love him.
Men want to be him.
Why couldn't he work for the IRS or the DMV or be a used car salesman? Can she hear me? - Uh, nope.
- Or a telemarketer? - Tell her to stop.
- Or a Forget I said anything.
Mm-hmm.
Good morning, Mr.
Cole.
Just a couple of quick questions - for the time being.
- Yeah, of course.
Prior to the night in question, you never met my client, did you? - Uh not that I'm aware of.
- Okay.
So you are inclined to agree with my client's assertion that this was all just a mistake? Objection, Your Honor.
Counsel is calling for speculation.
Sustained.
My mistake, Your Honor.
Ah.
There's that word again.
Mistake.
No further questions at this time.
I'm not amused, Mr.
Colón.
Let's take a 15 minute recess.
This witness is excused.
This doesn't work for me.
I can't just sit here.
I need to figure out who gave you that bad tip and I need to get you and Benny more intel on these witnesses.
Mm.
Well, you'll get no argument from me.
I know things look bleak right now, but you're in really great hands.
I'm grateful to be in any hands.
Thank you.
Let's compare notes tonight after court.
I hate this feeling.
I'm going to court every day, but not getting anywhere.
Making no progress with the jury.
And I feel like I'm being schooled by that child.
How old do you think that A.
D.
A.
is maybe 11? She's young.
Glad to see you two.
I was afraid you might not show up.
Oh, no.
You don't have another friend - who's been arrested, do you? - Remember, you said you wanted to compare notes.
Well, I've been working all afternoon and I think I finally found something I want to show you.
So, I did a bunch of sleuthing - on Michael Cole, Trent's victim.
- And? And I found something that really made me scratch my head.
Okay.
Well, after Trent dropped Michael Cole off at the emergency room he didn't seek treatment.
Say that again.
Trent said that he left him in the emergency room, and the hospital surveillance video that I'm about to show you confirms that, but he never sought treatment.
That doesn't make any sense.
Guy was unconscious for hours.
Watch this.
According to the time stamp, this is 1:47 in the morning.
Now I'm going to advance the tape.
This is exactly almost three minutes later.
What the hell? Three minutes after Trent left he opens his eyes, gets up, and walks out.
What are we saying? Are we saying maybe he wasn't unconscious? And if we're saying that what else are we saying? Gentlemen.
Good morning.
Oh, my goodness, she's not only an attorney at law, she is a greeter.
He gets cranky in the morning.
Can we help you with something? The two of you still interested in discussing a deal? When you say deal I was contemplating a 25-year sentence, eligible for parole after 18, in recognition of your client's years of service to the FBI.
Well, that's awfully reasonable of you, A.
D.
A.
Conway.
Heck, we're only 25 years apart on sentencing.
Cranky.
Let us chew on it, discuss it with our client.
By all means.
A.
D.
A.
Conway, can I ask you something? Was there anything in particular that brought on this sudden change of heart? Oh.
I was just thinking about what you said that first day we met.
About juries, how they're fickle.
It's my first really big case.
That bird in the hand is starting to look better and better to me.
The wisdom of our elders.
Hmm.
- She's spooked.
- Sure seems that way.
What does she know? And do we know it too? And if not, why not? And what else don't we know? You think maybe she saw the tape from the hospital? That's got to be it.
But how? Danny goes to get it from whoever, and maybe that same whoever thinks there's a buck to be made by tipping off the other side.
Wouldn't be the first time.
She's gonna give us the bum's rush.
She wants to get this thing over as quickly as possible.
The longer it goes, the more we will learn, and she's betting the weaker her case will get, so that is why she's willing to make a deal.
We're gonna get in there and she is gonna rest her case and we're gonna be caught flat-footed.
So let's put Trent on the stand to stall and make sure the team's ready to work late tonight.
Your Honor, at this time, the prosecution rests.
You ready for this? Dr.
Bull, I've testified dozens of times as a Fed and have nothing to hide.
I made a mistake, pure and simple.
Your Honor, the defense would like to call Trent Bolton to the stand.
To be a bounty hunter in New York State, you have to be asked to the dance.
Even after you get your training, even after you've been certified, if a bail bondsman doesn't have someone skip out on them and doesn't ask you to go after that person, you're not working.
Not as a bounty hunter, anyway.
So let me get this straight.
Someone gets arrested, someone like this Chris Lankford fellow, and even though he's committed all these robberies, even though there's millions of dollars in unrecovered money, diamonds, and artwork, a judge offers to let him out of jail while he awaits trial on two million dollars bail.
So he contacts a bail bondsman to put up the bail money and To guarantee for him to show up for court.
But in the Lankford case, no one shows up.
And, of course, now, no one could find this guy Lankford, - so the bail bondsman called you.
- I'd been bugging him for six months to give me a shot.
It's big money.
I just needed to show him what I could do.
Yeah.
Now, what led you to mistakenly apprehending Mr.
Cole? First thing I did, soon as I got the job, I did what they call a blast canvas.
I went to Lankford's known haunts, spoke to his known associates, spread the word that I-I've been looking for him.
Pretty much standard operating procedure, whether you're an FBI agent or a bounty hunter.
And then what happened? Then, the next day, eureka I get a call.
Anonymous.
Gives me an address, I go over, and there he is.
Except of course, it isn't him.
Sure looks like him, but it wasn't him.
So what did you do? What did you do as soon as you realized you had the wrong guy? - I brought him to a hospital.
- Mm.
It was it was, like, 1:30 in the morning.
I didn't know what else to do.
Plus, I hit him once, and it seemed like he had been unconscious forever.
I I I really started to get worried.
So you were concerned for him? Very.
Thank you.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Marissa, tell me we're making a dent.
Barely a dent, more like a ding.
We've got two green jurors, otherwise, everything I'm looking at in here is red.
Just one question, Mr.
Bolton.
Before you decided to render an innocent man unconscious, did it occur to you to simply ask him if he was Chris Lankford? With all due respect, Miss, over the course of my career, I've probably handled 100 apprehensions.
Until this case, I've never gotten the wrong man.
But, to a person, every one of the people I've brought in have sworn up and down they weren't the fellow I was looking for.
Except, every single time, they were.
That's very reassuring, but this time you were wrong.
Weren't you? Asked and answered, Your Honor.
I'll withdraw the question, Your Honor, and I have nothing else at this time.
I know you didn't ask, but we are down to one green over here.
I didn't ask.
Wow.
Okay, I'll ask.
What's everybody so damn happy about? You didn't order lobster for dinner again, did you? I finally know who called Trent and gave him the false tip.
- Do tell.
- And I figured out where the call was made from.
You don't say.
And I think we now know why the bail bondsman hired Trent in the first place.
And Danny also found out some things about the victim, Michael Cole, that I think are gonna make you both very happy.
Ah.
Remember happy? That's the one where your mouth go up at the ends, right? The defense would like to recall Michael Cole to the stand.
me, Nice to see you again, Mr.
Cole.
Okay.
So here's something I don't think the jury knows.
You're not just a New York City firefighter, you're an MMA fighter as well.
And cue the A.
D.
A.
Objection.
Relevance? Your Honor, you have my word, it won't take more than 30 seconds for me to make the relevance completely obvious to you and the jury.
Objection overruled.
You've got 30 seconds, Mr.
Colón.
Thank you, Your Honor, thank you.
Now, we were talking about your career as an MMA fighter.
Well, it's not a career.
It's-it's a hobby.
That occasionally pays a little money.
Oh.
My mistake.
I heard you were retiring from the FDNY, so I figured your career as an MMA fighter was taking off.
But apparently, you've come into money some other way.
Ask a question, Mr.
Colón.
Absolutely, your Honor.
So, you're not a full-time MMA fighter, but you do train as an MMA fighter.
Am I correct? At a place called - Pharrell's Training? - Yes.
Yes I do.
And are you aware that Chris Lankford the man my client mistook you for also trained there? I think the A.
D.
A.
just experienced - a growing pain.
- Still waiting for an answer, Mr.
Cole.
No.
This is this is the first I heard of that.
Ah.
Let me remind you that you are still under oath, sir.
Once again: were you aware that Chris Lankford also worked out at Pharell's Training? Objection.
Asked and answered.
Well, wait, wait.
Uh I mean I can plead the Fifth, right? I mean, that's that's an option, right? Well, if you believe your testimony might be used as evidence against you in a criminal matter, by all means.
Getting greener in here.
Objection.
To what? And on what grounds? I don't know? No, that's all right, Your Honor.
Let me withdraw the question.
Okay.
Let me ask you this.
How many times did my client punch you? - Once.
- Okay.
One punch.
And where did he punch you? - Right here.
You can see it.
- Okay.
So you're a firefighter, an MMA fighter, and my client socked you one time in the chin, and knocked you out for three hours? What can I say? I mean, your client he packs a mean punch.
Well, can you tell me this: if my client knocked you out and left you in a hospital emergency room, why, when you came to, did you not seek any treatment? I don't know.
You don't know.
Maybe when you came to, you felt okay? Yes.
That's probably it.
And maybe you were never unconscious in the first place.
Objection, Your Honor.
Counsel is testifying.
Objection sustained.
Jury will ignore counsel's comment.
No, they won't.
That's what we're counting on.
I have no further questions for this witness at this time, Your Honor.
A.
D.
A.
Conway, do you have any questions for this witness? Thousands.
Pardon me? None at this time.
Mr.
Colón, call your next witness.
The defense would like to call Hector Morales to the stand.
The bail bondsman? Why are they calling the bail bondsman? Ah, youth.
So, Mr.
Morales, you were the bail bondsman Chris Lankford called when he was arraigned and wished to post bail? Yes, sir.
Two million dollars.
Largest bond I've ever posted.
Largest bond you ever posted.
Wow.
But when your client didn't show up for trial, you hired a bounty hunter you had never used before.
In fact, you hired someone who had never even worked as a bounty hunter.
Isn't that correct? Mr.
Bolton had been coming at me for months.
He had something to prove.
And he had 15 years of experience apprehending criminals for the FBI.
He certainly wasn't a babe in the woods.
I-I And I know, I know, but still why would you send out someone you had never personally worked with before to retrieve a violent criminal for whom, by your own admission, you had just posted the largest bond in your company's history? I don't know what to tell you.
It made sense to me at the time.
- Would I do it again? - Call me crazy, but I bet you would.
Three, - two, one - Objection, Your Honor.
The defense appears to be attempting to sway the jury with inference and innuendo rather than allowing the witness's answers to simply stand.
Sustained.
Jury will disregard defense counsel's last statement.
Mr.
Colón, I need you to pull this line of questioning into a cohesive whole that makes sense, and do it quickly, or I'm going to have to cut it off.
Absolutely, Your Honor, absolutely.
I just need a minute or so more, and, uh, I believe things will become much, much clearer.
The clock is running Mr.
Colón.
Ask a question.
Yes, sir.
Now, as one of the conditions of Mr.
Lankford's bail, he had to surrender his passport to the court, didn't he? Yes, sir.
Now, sometimes, when you put up bond, the court doesn't ask for the passport, but you do.
Right? Sometimes we need that extra assurance holding someone's passport gives you.
Hmm.
You ever heard the name Nyman Sidah? May have posted bail for him maybe four or five years ago? And, uh, did you ask him to surrender his passport at the time? Could be.
I'd have to check my records.
Now, after you posted his bail, did he show up for trial? No.
My recollection, sadly, is that he was killed in a car accident on his way to court.
Terrible, just terrible.
Everybody buckle up.
I sense the captain's about to put on the seat belt sign.
How much did Chris Lankford pay for Nyman Sidah's passport? That's my cue.
I'm sorry.
I didn't hear an answer.
Maybe I should just rephrase the question.
When Mr.
Lankford approached you about putting up his two million dollars bail, how many millions above and beyond that did he offer for you to provide him with a passport and a bounty hunter? A bounty hunter who would likely fall for the tip Lankford would call in on himself, leading him to a paid lookalike who was willing to fake being captured and buy him enough time to leave the country? Don't object, just ask for a brief recess.
Your Honor, the prosecution would like to request a brief recess.
One thing at a time.
The witness will answer the question.
I withdraw the question, Your Honor.
Fine, then.
Let's take a 15-minute break and resume testimony at that time.
You bring me out here just to say "I told you so"? Well, first of all, I didn't say I told you so, and second of all, no.
That is not why I told you to ask for a recess.
I brought you out here to tell you you don't have to lose.
But that if you don't act now, if you don't do something before that jury votes, that is exactly what's gonna happen.
And you are too smart and too special to fall into that trap.
Well thank you, but what makes you so certain it's gonna go that way? Do you want to go back in there and watch my guy finish filleting this witness? You want to watch him enter into evidence a photocopy of Lankford's passport, which he used to get out of the country? It was supplied to us by Homeland Security.
You want to hear about the tip my client got which was from a pay phone at Kennedy Airport? We went out there and we got all the quarters out of that pay phone, and what do you know Lankford's fingerprints are on some of them.
Or maybe you want to see the victim's bank records.
The unexpected, unexplained deposit of a quarter of a million dollars the day before my client supposedly mistakenly abducted this victim.
Just go in, announce you want to withdraw the charges against my client and then have your office immediately file charges against the bail bondsman and the fireman.
And who knows if you lean on them hard enough, maybe they'll tell you where Lankford is, and then you can put him behind bars once and for all.
And that's a win.
Why are you being so nice to me? I know.
I'm old, and virtually at death's door, but I'm hoping to live long enough to vote for you when you run for district attorney in five years or so.
Oh, my God.
I'm sorry, did you say something? I missed that This damn hearing aid.
Thank you.
Thank you both so much.
I don't know how I'm ever gonna repay you.
Don't worry about it.
Call your ex-wife and your son.
- Tell them the good news.
- Will do.
Best of luck to you, Trent.
Hey, uh, do me a favor thank Danny for me.
Will do.
I-Is she as great working for you as when she worked for me? Hey, Iron Man.
Hey! I heard the news.
I had to come over.
What do I say? How do I thank you? I Oh, Trent, you don't have to thank me.
You've probably saved my life hundred of times when I was with the Bureau, so I'm just happy to pay down the debt.
- Oh - Come on.
- Hey.
- Let's-let's get out of here.
I'll buy you a drink.
I'm coming for you.
I've got a gun aimed at the back of your seat.
So no more screaming.
All right? Right.
Hands where I can see 'em.
What do you-what do you want you want my wallet? You can have it.
I don't know.
You got two million dollars in there? You serious? I'm as serious as Trump's barber.
That's what you owe my client.
So unless you got that in your wallet, I'm not interested.
Now, on the count of three, we're both getting out of this car.
Do not try to run away or you will feel a sharp, sudden pain in your buttocks.
- Am I being clear? - Very.
Okay.
Here we go.
One, two, three.
Slow it down.
Slow it down.
You're doing great.
Just one more thing.
Turn around.
Feel free to stretch out.
Make yourself comfortable.
You couldn't snag him during the day? It's almost midnight.
Great doing business with you, too, Hector.
I had to wait for him to come out of his girlfriend's house.
- You got my money? - Of course I got your money.
It's in my pocket.
And that's where it's gonna stay until after I see the guy.
- Okay.
This is him? That's him.
No.
This ain't him.
Definitely not him.
My guy wears a rug.
This guy's hair's organic.
Wait a second.
Don't just walk away, come on.
He-he looks like the guy.
He was where my tipster said the guy would be.
- I I think he's the guy.
- He's not the guy.
Hector.
Hec-Hector.
Hector.
Hec Listen, listen, seriously? Seriously, you don't think that maybe he's the guy? I lent the man two million dollars.
Believe me, I wish that were him more than you do.
Okay, fine, all right.
He's not the guy.
But what-what do you suggest I do with him? That's not my problem.
Hey.
How you doing? Be right back.
I got to I got to move my car.
Okay? Thanks.
Thank you for coming.
It's been a long time.
You look great.
What are you doing in here, Trent? Are you not with the Bureau anymore? The FBI? I've been out two and a half years now.
You know that thing when you tell yourself, "Hey, I'm hanging around with bad guys, "doing lots of drugs, "getting intimate with people I'm not married to, but it's okay, it's all about the job"? Then, one day, you're taking vacation time, and you're still hanging around with bad people, still doing drugs, still sleeping with people you're not married to.
I realized that was me.
So I submitted my letter of resignation, booked three months at a rehab, and here I am.
Well, not here, but W-What about your marriage? How-how's your son? Marriage did not survive.
Surprise, surprise.
Me and my boy, we're like a a work in progress.
He's nine.
I get him one week a month.
Takes him five days to warm up to me, so the sixth day is always great.
And then the seventh, he goes back to his mom.
And h-how about you? How about your life? I hear you're working for some kind of, uh, superlawyer.
Which, frankly, is something I could use.
Well he's not superlawyer.
He's not even a lawyer, really.
But can we just start from the beginning? Why are you in here? You, uh, you got a pencil? It's quite a list.
I got a good memory.
Kidnapping.
False imprisonment.
Assault and battery, - menacing in the second degree - He pulled a gun? reckless endangerment and, lastly, assault with attempt to kill.
Let me get this straight.
He threatened the guy with a firearm and then threw him in the trunk of his car? The gun wasn't actually loaded.
Easy to say, hard to prove.
Well, the real guy the guy he thought he was throwing in his car, Christopher Lankford is under suspicion for a string of violent home invasion robberies and armed holdups.
It's not like he could just throw him in the back seat and tell him to sit still.
It was an honest mistake.
He got a bad tip.
And he's willing to make it right.
He's willing to pay for the medical bills, the-the lost wages.
And he's been doing this kind of thing for how long? What, being a bounty hunter? Or, as they call it here in New York State, a bail recovery agent? This was his first job.
Seriously? He's been licensed for over a year.
But it's hard getting started.
You need a bail bondsman to believe in you, give you a break.
So how has he been making a living since he left the Bureau? A process server, private investigator, private security detail, bodyguard.
Just waiting for his shot.
And this was it.
Thing is, he's a really good person.
He was my mentor.
Taught me everything I know.
So what is it, exactly, he wants? Help.
For maybe you to get involved? Or at the very least, point him toward someone who can get in there - and fight for him - Let me do this.
I'm heading down to the courthouse anyway.
Text me the name of the prosecutor who filed the charges, and I will try and have a conversation with him or her, see how dug in they are, but I am not holding out a lot of hope.
How long has it been since you've seen this guy, heard from this guy, thought about this guy? - At least three years.
- Great.
Then you won't hate me forever if, after I talk to the A.
D.
A.
, I pass.
Dr.
Bull? Dr.
Jason Bull I'm A.
D.
A.
Conway.
My intern gave me your message.
This is a real honor.
Ah.
A.
D.
A.
Conway.
N Nice to meet you.
I've never seen you around here before.
Uh, thanks for making the time to see me.
Well, I'm a new hire.
I started just after New Year's.
Well, I was wondering if we could discuss the charges you brought against Trent Bolton.
Will your firm be involved in his defense? I haven't quite made up my mind yet.
He's a friend of a friend.
Let's just consider this a professional inquiry.
Well, what would you like to know? I was wondering if there wasn't some understanding we could come to.
You mean a deal? A plea deal? Hypothetically.
That's absurd.
On what basis? On the basis of the facts.
At the end of the day, all that really happened here is Mr.
Bolton made an unfortunate mistake.
A mistake for which he is willing to pay.
And the victim should absolutely file suit in civil court.
Mr.
Bolton freely admits he caused harm and he stands ready - to make recompense.
- Excuse me, this man has made a lot of mistakes.
He threatened a private citizen with a gun, then struck that private citizen, rendering him unconscious, bound that private citizen, threw him in the trunk of a car, and then left him unattended at a public hospital while he was still unconscious.
I don't dispute any of that, but let's be honest here: if he had caught the right guy the guy that terrorized those people, raped and robbed them of everything they own well, I don't think the state would be wasting its time prosecuting these so-called abuses.
I think they would be celebrating him, calling him a hero.
I think Michael Bay would be making a movie about him and your boss, the D.
A.
, would be taking pictures with him.
This is a ridiculous conversation.
Can I explain the jury system to you? Are you even a lawyer? For all its virtues, it's a highly unpredictable process, and I say this as someone who's been studying it for over 20 years.
Your point? My point is that attorneys make deals.
Attorneys on both sides of the case.
Because it takes the unpredictable nature of the process and does away with it.
It is a bird in the hand.
Not to mention the money it saves the state and the people they're prosecuting.
Making a deal a good plea deal that is something that smart, seasoned attorneys aspire to.
Well, gosh.
As I just explained to you, I just got off the bus, Dr.
Bull.
How would I know any of that? And I will admit that I didn't season myself before I came in to work today.
And it would be immodest, I think, to refer to myself as smart.
So let's just cut to the chase, Mr.
Older and Wiser.
Make me an offer.
Well, with the caveat that I don't officially represent Mr.
Bolton and would have to run anything we agree on by him, I would ask that you dismiss the criminal charges and we move this case to civil court.
Okay.
And I would be willing to take the 30-year sentence that I believe he actually deserves and cut it down to 29.
Would you like me to repeat that? No, I put fresh batteries in my hearing aid this morning, I heard you just fine.
I'll see you in court, A.
D.
A.
Conway.
Well, if you decide to take the case.
Actually I just made my decision.
Mr.
Bolton.
My name is Dr.
Jason Bull.
This is Benjamin Colón.
He's a very experienced criminal attorney, and the man that I would appoint to represent you in court, should you choose to allow our firm to provide council in your case.
Should I choose? That implies I have another option, which I don't.
I'm grateful that you're here.
Grateful that Danny was able to persuade you to come.
Those bruises look fresh.
Guys had a little welcome party for me last night.
They somehow found out I used to be in the Bureau, and that always brings out the playfulness in the prison population.
We'll make some phone calls.
See if we can't get you moved to solitary or a higher-security wing.
You do understand how much trouble you're in, don't you? I spoke with the A.
D.
A.
and she's thinking she might be able to put you away for 30 years.
Look, I'm willing to do anything I can to make this right.
Pay doctor bills, anything else Danny communicated that to us and Dr.
Bull shared that - with the A.
D.
A - And she wasn't much interested.
She just wants to see you behind bars.
Now, look.
I don't know you.
Mr.
Colón doesn't know you.
We're here because Danny James says you're a good man.
20 years with the FBI seems like a pretty honorable way of making a living.
But the fact remains what you did to that fella it's pretty horrific.
And it is not gonna be an easy task to get a jury to see past it.
I get that.
But it's a rough trade, bounty hunting.
When a bail bondsman puts up money to get someone out of jail in this case, a couple of million dollars there's a contract they have to sign.
They have to agree to waive a lot of the rights we all take for granted.
Yeah, including the rights not to be handcuffed, threatened at gunpoint - and thrown into a trunk.
- Problem is, the man who agreed to all of that is not the man you attacked.
Any idea who gave you the bad tip? I'm guessing someone connected to Christopher Lankford, but No, I-I I have no idea.
And it's tough for me to investigate from in here.
Well I'm not gonna lie to you.
We'll do the best we can, but it's gonna be an uphill battle.
Like I said, I'm grateful for the help.
C-Can I ask you for one more favor? Uh, this is my ex-wife's number.
Can you give her a call? Tell her what's going on? I don't want my son to worry or to think his dad forgot him.
Sure thing.
I'll see you in court tomorrow, Mr.
Bolton.
See you in court tomorrow.
So what's on the grocery list today, boss? Frontier pragmatists.
Frontier pragmatists.
Never heard of them.
Jurors who can see that the role Trent serves in society dispensing rough but necessary justice is essential to keeping us safe.
Frontier pragmatists see the world for what it is, not how they wish it to be.
And they understand to get the job done, sometimes you need to use any means necessary.
Good morning, sir.
Says here that you are married.
Any children? - Just one at the moment.
- All right.
Okay.
Now, I don't mean to pry, but were you home when your wife went into labor? As a matter of fact, I wasn't.
I was at the office - in an important meeting.
- And how did she reach out to you phone, text? Text.
All caps.
Ah.
And then what did you do? I stood up and I said, "Excuse me, everyone.
I need to leave.
My wife's having a baby.
" That sounds about right.
And what did you do next did you run home? Well, sort of.
Home is in Queens.
So, no time to use my phone or get a ridesharing service or even take the subway.
I just hit the streets and tried to grab a cab.
And were you successful? A cab did pull over, but truthfully, didn't pull over for me.
Uh, but I didn't care.
I mean, I pushed the people that it was intended for out of the way and jumped inside and quickly closed the door behind me.
I-I felt bad, but But sometimes life happens.
Your Honor, the defense approves of this juror.
But we can't focus only on the frontier pragmatism, we need to identify jurors who would be likely to embrace our mistake of fact defense.
People who are willing to forgive those who make reasonable mistakes, regardless of the consequences.
Okay.
It is Thursday night, you go to your favorite neighborhood restaurant, you're a local there.
They treat you well, the food is good.
Prices are reasonable, many of the dishes go from ten to 12 to 14 dollars.
But the waiter comes over to your table and says there's a special that night.
Pasta with truffles.
Huh? Sounds good.
You order it, - Mmm.
You eat it, you love it.
But then the bill comes.
Turns out that special was $45.
Four times more than anything else on the menu.
What do you do? The waiter didn't tell me the price? No, but you didn't ask.
So what do you do? Do you pay the bill, do you make a fuss? I-I might make a bit of a fuss, but I'm gonna pay the bill.
I ate the food.
And since I didn't ask the price I guess it's as much my fault as it is the waiter's.
Your Honor, this juror is acceptable to the defense.
Very well, then.
We have our jury.
Let's adjourn for lunch and then commence with opening arguments.
Good morning, Dr.
Bull.
Ah, A.
D.
A.
Conway.
Frontier pragmatists, huh? I'm sorry, I've never heard that expression before.
Never mind.
Just a hunch.
I'll see you after the break.
See you after the break.
I want to talk about common sense for a moment.
What does that mean "common sense"? I think it sort of means "a shared sense.
" Ideas and understandings that we all have in common.
They're so basic.
They're so obvious.
For instance, if you're walking down the street, minding your own business, and someone accosts you, someone waves a weapon in your face, someone holds you against your will, your common sense tells you this isn't right, this shouldn't be allowed to happen.
We, as a society, can't permit whatever excuses and explanations are offered up to cloud our thinking, to distract us from what our common sense tells us is an unmistakable truth: that people should be able to live their lives without fear of strangers striking them, knocking them unconscious and holding them against their will.
It's just common sense.
Now, during the course of the trial, I'll be offering you evidence of what the accused has done.
In many ways, this really isn't necessary.
He's already admitted to it.
Of course, the defense is gonna tell you otherwise.
They're gonna try and convince you that sometimes it's okay to strike a stranger, to throw them in the trunk of your car, to leave them unconscious and alone.
They're gonna try and get you to ignore the obvious, ignore the simple truth, ignore your common sense.
Don't let them.
Thank you.
She's good.
Hmm.
This is one of several new videos taken from homes in the area that have video surveillance.
That's you, isn't it? It certainly is.
And what were you doing when you first encountered the defendant? I was leaving my girlfriend's house.
Just gotten in my car.
He was hiding in the back seat.
Told me he had a gun.
Told me to get out of the car.
Were you frightened? Very much so.
I thought he was a carjacker.
I thought I thought I was a dead man.
And what's the next thing you remember? Got out of the car, saw the gun, and then he he clocked me.
- Knocked me out.
- And then? And then, nothing.
I-I woke up in the some uh, hospital waiting room.
I looked at the clock, realized three hours had gone by, and so, you know, I called the police.
And how have you been since? Have you been able to return to work? No.
No, I haven't.
I I'm still pretty shook up.
I just took a month's leave.
Hopefully, that'll be enough to, uh, get me back to where I was.
You know.
I mean, something something like this it messes with your head.
And what is it that you do for a living? I'm a New York City firefighter.
Thank you, Your Honor.
No further questions.
You had to pick a fireman? Oh, - Bull - Well, that's that.
I mean, he's a fireman.
Women love him.
Men want to be him.
Why couldn't he work for the IRS or the DMV or be a used car salesman? Can she hear me? - Uh, nope.
- Or a telemarketer? - Tell her to stop.
- Or a Forget I said anything.
Mm-hmm.
Good morning, Mr.
Cole.
Just a couple of quick questions - for the time being.
- Yeah, of course.
Prior to the night in question, you never met my client, did you? - Uh not that I'm aware of.
- Okay.
So you are inclined to agree with my client's assertion that this was all just a mistake? Objection, Your Honor.
Counsel is calling for speculation.
Sustained.
My mistake, Your Honor.
Ah.
There's that word again.
Mistake.
No further questions at this time.
I'm not amused, Mr.
Colón.
Let's take a 15 minute recess.
This witness is excused.
This doesn't work for me.
I can't just sit here.
I need to figure out who gave you that bad tip and I need to get you and Benny more intel on these witnesses.
Mm.
Well, you'll get no argument from me.
I know things look bleak right now, but you're in really great hands.
I'm grateful to be in any hands.
Thank you.
Let's compare notes tonight after court.
I hate this feeling.
I'm going to court every day, but not getting anywhere.
Making no progress with the jury.
And I feel like I'm being schooled by that child.
How old do you think that A.
D.
A.
is maybe 11? She's young.
Glad to see you two.
I was afraid you might not show up.
Oh, no.
You don't have another friend - who's been arrested, do you? - Remember, you said you wanted to compare notes.
Well, I've been working all afternoon and I think I finally found something I want to show you.
So, I did a bunch of sleuthing - on Michael Cole, Trent's victim.
- And? And I found something that really made me scratch my head.
Okay.
Well, after Trent dropped Michael Cole off at the emergency room he didn't seek treatment.
Say that again.
Trent said that he left him in the emergency room, and the hospital surveillance video that I'm about to show you confirms that, but he never sought treatment.
That doesn't make any sense.
Guy was unconscious for hours.
Watch this.
According to the time stamp, this is 1:47 in the morning.
Now I'm going to advance the tape.
This is exactly almost three minutes later.
What the hell? Three minutes after Trent left he opens his eyes, gets up, and walks out.
What are we saying? Are we saying maybe he wasn't unconscious? And if we're saying that what else are we saying? Gentlemen.
Good morning.
Oh, my goodness, she's not only an attorney at law, she is a greeter.
He gets cranky in the morning.
Can we help you with something? The two of you still interested in discussing a deal? When you say deal I was contemplating a 25-year sentence, eligible for parole after 18, in recognition of your client's years of service to the FBI.
Well, that's awfully reasonable of you, A.
D.
A.
Conway.
Heck, we're only 25 years apart on sentencing.
Cranky.
Let us chew on it, discuss it with our client.
By all means.
A.
D.
A.
Conway, can I ask you something? Was there anything in particular that brought on this sudden change of heart? Oh.
I was just thinking about what you said that first day we met.
About juries, how they're fickle.
It's my first really big case.
That bird in the hand is starting to look better and better to me.
The wisdom of our elders.
Hmm.
- She's spooked.
- Sure seems that way.
What does she know? And do we know it too? And if not, why not? And what else don't we know? You think maybe she saw the tape from the hospital? That's got to be it.
But how? Danny goes to get it from whoever, and maybe that same whoever thinks there's a buck to be made by tipping off the other side.
Wouldn't be the first time.
She's gonna give us the bum's rush.
She wants to get this thing over as quickly as possible.
The longer it goes, the more we will learn, and she's betting the weaker her case will get, so that is why she's willing to make a deal.
We're gonna get in there and she is gonna rest her case and we're gonna be caught flat-footed.
So let's put Trent on the stand to stall and make sure the team's ready to work late tonight.
Your Honor, at this time, the prosecution rests.
You ready for this? Dr.
Bull, I've testified dozens of times as a Fed and have nothing to hide.
I made a mistake, pure and simple.
Your Honor, the defense would like to call Trent Bolton to the stand.
To be a bounty hunter in New York State, you have to be asked to the dance.
Even after you get your training, even after you've been certified, if a bail bondsman doesn't have someone skip out on them and doesn't ask you to go after that person, you're not working.
Not as a bounty hunter, anyway.
So let me get this straight.
Someone gets arrested, someone like this Chris Lankford fellow, and even though he's committed all these robberies, even though there's millions of dollars in unrecovered money, diamonds, and artwork, a judge offers to let him out of jail while he awaits trial on two million dollars bail.
So he contacts a bail bondsman to put up the bail money and To guarantee for him to show up for court.
But in the Lankford case, no one shows up.
And, of course, now, no one could find this guy Lankford, - so the bail bondsman called you.
- I'd been bugging him for six months to give me a shot.
It's big money.
I just needed to show him what I could do.
Yeah.
Now, what led you to mistakenly apprehending Mr.
Cole? First thing I did, soon as I got the job, I did what they call a blast canvas.
I went to Lankford's known haunts, spoke to his known associates, spread the word that I-I've been looking for him.
Pretty much standard operating procedure, whether you're an FBI agent or a bounty hunter.
And then what happened? Then, the next day, eureka I get a call.
Anonymous.
Gives me an address, I go over, and there he is.
Except of course, it isn't him.
Sure looks like him, but it wasn't him.
So what did you do? What did you do as soon as you realized you had the wrong guy? - I brought him to a hospital.
- Mm.
It was it was, like, 1:30 in the morning.
I didn't know what else to do.
Plus, I hit him once, and it seemed like he had been unconscious forever.
I I I really started to get worried.
So you were concerned for him? Very.
Thank you.
No further questions, Your Honor.
Marissa, tell me we're making a dent.
Barely a dent, more like a ding.
We've got two green jurors, otherwise, everything I'm looking at in here is red.
Just one question, Mr.
Bolton.
Before you decided to render an innocent man unconscious, did it occur to you to simply ask him if he was Chris Lankford? With all due respect, Miss, over the course of my career, I've probably handled 100 apprehensions.
Until this case, I've never gotten the wrong man.
But, to a person, every one of the people I've brought in have sworn up and down they weren't the fellow I was looking for.
Except, every single time, they were.
That's very reassuring, but this time you were wrong.
Weren't you? Asked and answered, Your Honor.
I'll withdraw the question, Your Honor, and I have nothing else at this time.
I know you didn't ask, but we are down to one green over here.
I didn't ask.
Wow.
Okay, I'll ask.
What's everybody so damn happy about? You didn't order lobster for dinner again, did you? I finally know who called Trent and gave him the false tip.
- Do tell.
- And I figured out where the call was made from.
You don't say.
And I think we now know why the bail bondsman hired Trent in the first place.
And Danny also found out some things about the victim, Michael Cole, that I think are gonna make you both very happy.
Ah.
Remember happy? That's the one where your mouth go up at the ends, right? The defense would like to recall Michael Cole to the stand.
me, Nice to see you again, Mr.
Cole.
Okay.
So here's something I don't think the jury knows.
You're not just a New York City firefighter, you're an MMA fighter as well.
And cue the A.
D.
A.
Objection.
Relevance? Your Honor, you have my word, it won't take more than 30 seconds for me to make the relevance completely obvious to you and the jury.
Objection overruled.
You've got 30 seconds, Mr.
Colón.
Thank you, Your Honor, thank you.
Now, we were talking about your career as an MMA fighter.
Well, it's not a career.
It's-it's a hobby.
That occasionally pays a little money.
Oh.
My mistake.
I heard you were retiring from the FDNY, so I figured your career as an MMA fighter was taking off.
But apparently, you've come into money some other way.
Ask a question, Mr.
Colón.
Absolutely, your Honor.
So, you're not a full-time MMA fighter, but you do train as an MMA fighter.
Am I correct? At a place called - Pharrell's Training? - Yes.
Yes I do.
And are you aware that Chris Lankford the man my client mistook you for also trained there? I think the A.
D.
A.
just experienced - a growing pain.
- Still waiting for an answer, Mr.
Cole.
No.
This is this is the first I heard of that.
Ah.
Let me remind you that you are still under oath, sir.
Once again: were you aware that Chris Lankford also worked out at Pharell's Training? Objection.
Asked and answered.
Well, wait, wait.
Uh I mean I can plead the Fifth, right? I mean, that's that's an option, right? Well, if you believe your testimony might be used as evidence against you in a criminal matter, by all means.
Getting greener in here.
Objection.
To what? And on what grounds? I don't know? No, that's all right, Your Honor.
Let me withdraw the question.
Okay.
Let me ask you this.
How many times did my client punch you? - Once.
- Okay.
One punch.
And where did he punch you? - Right here.
You can see it.
- Okay.
So you're a firefighter, an MMA fighter, and my client socked you one time in the chin, and knocked you out for three hours? What can I say? I mean, your client he packs a mean punch.
Well, can you tell me this: if my client knocked you out and left you in a hospital emergency room, why, when you came to, did you not seek any treatment? I don't know.
You don't know.
Maybe when you came to, you felt okay? Yes.
That's probably it.
And maybe you were never unconscious in the first place.
Objection, Your Honor.
Counsel is testifying.
Objection sustained.
Jury will ignore counsel's comment.
No, they won't.
That's what we're counting on.
I have no further questions for this witness at this time, Your Honor.
A.
D.
A.
Conway, do you have any questions for this witness? Thousands.
Pardon me? None at this time.
Mr.
Colón, call your next witness.
The defense would like to call Hector Morales to the stand.
The bail bondsman? Why are they calling the bail bondsman? Ah, youth.
So, Mr.
Morales, you were the bail bondsman Chris Lankford called when he was arraigned and wished to post bail? Yes, sir.
Two million dollars.
Largest bond I've ever posted.
Largest bond you ever posted.
Wow.
But when your client didn't show up for trial, you hired a bounty hunter you had never used before.
In fact, you hired someone who had never even worked as a bounty hunter.
Isn't that correct? Mr.
Bolton had been coming at me for months.
He had something to prove.
And he had 15 years of experience apprehending criminals for the FBI.
He certainly wasn't a babe in the woods.
I-I And I know, I know, but still why would you send out someone you had never personally worked with before to retrieve a violent criminal for whom, by your own admission, you had just posted the largest bond in your company's history? I don't know what to tell you.
It made sense to me at the time.
- Would I do it again? - Call me crazy, but I bet you would.
Three, - two, one - Objection, Your Honor.
The defense appears to be attempting to sway the jury with inference and innuendo rather than allowing the witness's answers to simply stand.
Sustained.
Jury will disregard defense counsel's last statement.
Mr.
Colón, I need you to pull this line of questioning into a cohesive whole that makes sense, and do it quickly, or I'm going to have to cut it off.
Absolutely, Your Honor, absolutely.
I just need a minute or so more, and, uh, I believe things will become much, much clearer.
The clock is running Mr.
Colón.
Ask a question.
Yes, sir.
Now, as one of the conditions of Mr.
Lankford's bail, he had to surrender his passport to the court, didn't he? Yes, sir.
Now, sometimes, when you put up bond, the court doesn't ask for the passport, but you do.
Right? Sometimes we need that extra assurance holding someone's passport gives you.
Hmm.
You ever heard the name Nyman Sidah? May have posted bail for him maybe four or five years ago? And, uh, did you ask him to surrender his passport at the time? Could be.
I'd have to check my records.
Now, after you posted his bail, did he show up for trial? No.
My recollection, sadly, is that he was killed in a car accident on his way to court.
Terrible, just terrible.
Everybody buckle up.
I sense the captain's about to put on the seat belt sign.
How much did Chris Lankford pay for Nyman Sidah's passport? That's my cue.
I'm sorry.
I didn't hear an answer.
Maybe I should just rephrase the question.
When Mr.
Lankford approached you about putting up his two million dollars bail, how many millions above and beyond that did he offer for you to provide him with a passport and a bounty hunter? A bounty hunter who would likely fall for the tip Lankford would call in on himself, leading him to a paid lookalike who was willing to fake being captured and buy him enough time to leave the country? Don't object, just ask for a brief recess.
Your Honor, the prosecution would like to request a brief recess.
One thing at a time.
The witness will answer the question.
I withdraw the question, Your Honor.
Fine, then.
Let's take a 15-minute break and resume testimony at that time.
You bring me out here just to say "I told you so"? Well, first of all, I didn't say I told you so, and second of all, no.
That is not why I told you to ask for a recess.
I brought you out here to tell you you don't have to lose.
But that if you don't act now, if you don't do something before that jury votes, that is exactly what's gonna happen.
And you are too smart and too special to fall into that trap.
Well thank you, but what makes you so certain it's gonna go that way? Do you want to go back in there and watch my guy finish filleting this witness? You want to watch him enter into evidence a photocopy of Lankford's passport, which he used to get out of the country? It was supplied to us by Homeland Security.
You want to hear about the tip my client got which was from a pay phone at Kennedy Airport? We went out there and we got all the quarters out of that pay phone, and what do you know Lankford's fingerprints are on some of them.
Or maybe you want to see the victim's bank records.
The unexpected, unexplained deposit of a quarter of a million dollars the day before my client supposedly mistakenly abducted this victim.
Just go in, announce you want to withdraw the charges against my client and then have your office immediately file charges against the bail bondsman and the fireman.
And who knows if you lean on them hard enough, maybe they'll tell you where Lankford is, and then you can put him behind bars once and for all.
And that's a win.
Why are you being so nice to me? I know.
I'm old, and virtually at death's door, but I'm hoping to live long enough to vote for you when you run for district attorney in five years or so.
Oh, my God.
I'm sorry, did you say something? I missed that This damn hearing aid.
Thank you.
Thank you both so much.
I don't know how I'm ever gonna repay you.
Don't worry about it.
Call your ex-wife and your son.
- Tell them the good news.
- Will do.
Best of luck to you, Trent.
Hey, uh, do me a favor thank Danny for me.
Will do.
I-Is she as great working for you as when she worked for me? Hey, Iron Man.
Hey! I heard the news.
I had to come over.
What do I say? How do I thank you? I Oh, Trent, you don't have to thank me.
You've probably saved my life hundred of times when I was with the Bureau, so I'm just happy to pay down the debt.
- Oh - Come on.
- Hey.
- Let's-let's get out of here.
I'll buy you a drink.