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During Kelley Marie Ball's murder trial in Stanislaus County, California, her attorney Christopher Loethen was arrested on September 16 for suspicion of public intoxication and being under the influence of a controlled substance. When the trial resumed and Loethen failed to appear, Judge Valli Israels declared a mistrial and appointed Martin Baker as Ball’s new lawyer. Ball faces multiple charges including murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, along with several prior DUI convictions.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In a shocking turn of events in Stanislaus County, California, attorney Christopher Loethen was arrested on September 16 during the murder trial of Kelley Marie Ball for being under the influence and possessing controlled substances. Following Loethen's absence from court after his release from jail that same night, Judge Valli Israels removed him as Ball’s attorney. Despite extensive efforts to contact Loethen by phone and email, he failed to appear in court when the trial resumed on Thursday. As a result, another defender, Martin Baker, was appointed to take over Ball's case. The legal proceedings were halted with the judge scheduling a second hearing for Friday but without any resolution due to continued absence of Loethen. This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of high-stakes criminal cases and the importance of maintaining professional conduct among defense attorneys.
Written for “Murder Case Suspect Attorney Arrested” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A California murder trial ended in a mistrial after the defendant’s attorney was arrested for allegedly being under the influence — then failed to show up for court.
uncertain
attorney → end → court
Attorney Christopher Loethen was arrested Sept. 16 at the Stanislaus County courthouse after his condition raised concerns during the murder trial of Kelley Marie Ball, according to the Modesto Bee.
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uncertain
condition → arrest → California
Loethen was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on suspicion of public intoxication, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
asserted
Loethen → book → substance
He was released from jail later that night.
asserted
He → release → jail
When Ball’s trial resumed Thursday, Loethen was nowhere to be found.
asserted
Loethen → resume → ?
The court made “extensive efforts” to reach him by phone and email, but he did not appear, the Bee reported.
asserted
Bee → make → phone
A second hearing was scheduled for Friday, with Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Valli Israels leaving messages telling Loethen he needed to appear.
asserted
he → schedule → Loethen
He didn’t.
asserted
He → do → ?
Israels also addressed Loethen’s behavior before his arrest, saying there had been an apparent change in his demeanor.
asserted
Israels → address → demeanor
“It just seemed like there was an aggressiveness about Mr. Loethen, not just towards the court, but in general,” Israels said.
asserted
Israels → seem → court
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With Loethen absent, the judge removed him as Ball’s attorney and appointed another defender, Martin Baker, to take over the case.
asserted
judge → download → case
Baker told the court he needed more time to prepare before the jury was scheduled to return Tuesday.
asserted
jury → tell → time
Prosecutors objected, but Israels granted the request.
asserted
Israels → object → request
The trial had begun Aug. 25 and was in its seventh day when Israels declared a mistrial without prejudice, meaning prosecutors can try Ball again.
asserted
prosecutors → begin → Ball
Ball is accused of murder, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and vandalism.
asserted
Ball → accuse → injury
She also had several prior DUI convictions between 1997 and 2007, according to court documents.
uncertain
She → have → documents
Ball is due back in court Sept. 24 and remains jailed on $2.195 million bail.
asserted
Ball → remain → bail
Loethen’s arrest has also left his own law office scrambling for answers.
asserted
arrest → leave → answers
A person at the office told the Bee she had not spoken with Loethen and had no information about his arrest.
asserted
she → tell → arrest
The California Post reached out to Loethen’s law office for comment.
asserted
Post → reach → comment
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