Former UA running back Orlando Bradford, who is serving a five-year sentence in prison for choking two ex-girlfriends, is claiming ineffective counsel by his Pima County Public Defender.
Because Bradford took a plea agreement, he's not able to appeal his conviction, but he can still challenge the sentence or raise concerns about the effectiveness of his attorney in something called post-conviction relief.
On Feb. 2, Bradford filed his notice of post-conviction relief in Pima County Superior Court, claiming that he had ineffective assistance of counsel.
No additional details were included in the notice form.
Bradford was arrested in September 2016 after his girlfriend told Tucson police that Bradford repeatedly assaulted her over a two-day period. The day after his arrest, a second woman came forward to say he'd also beaten and choked her.
He was charged with 15 domestic violence-related offenses but accepted an agreement, pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault.
The court is in the process of gathering records to turn over to Bradford's new attorney at the Pima County Legal Defender's Office, who has until June 19 to file a formal petition for relief.
Judge Teresa Godoy, who handled Bradford's sentencing, will review his petition and can choose to grant him a hearing or simply deny the request.
