A lawyer for jailed former UA running back Orlando Bradford says that he's found no grounds for a claim of ineffective counsel, although Bradford can pursue the challenge by himself if he chooses.Β Β
Bradford pleaded guilty last year to two counts of domestic violence-related aggravated assault. Because he took a plea agreement, Bradford is not able to appeal his conviction, although he can still challenge the sentence or raise concerns about his attorney's effectiveness. In February, Bradford did just that, filing a motion for post-conviction relief after saying his public defender provided ineffective counsel.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Teresa Godoy assigned the Pima County Legal Defender's Office to represent Bradford during the review. On Monday, attorney Jeffrey Kautenburger told the court he would not be filing a petition for post-conviction relief.
Kautenburger told Bradford he could file a petition on his own, however, and asked the judge to extend the filing deadline by 45 days to give Bradford time to prepare the petition.
The two women who reported Bradford to Tucson police are suing the University of Arizona in federal court, saying that the school violated their Title IX rights to an education free from sexual harassment. Campus police reports show that a third girlfriend told police that Bradford abused her months before his arrest. The lawsuits say that the school knew he was dangerous and failed to take appropriate action to stop him from hurting other students.
