UPDATED, 12:50 PM: A judge today postponed sentencing again for acting coach Cameron Thor, who was convicted in August of lewd conduct, after Thor’s lawyer filed a pair of late motions. Mark Geragos, the famed attorney and frequent CNN legal commentator who was hired in October, told Deadline he filed the motion for a new trial based on “ineffective assistance of counsel” and insufficient evidence. He also filed a “13th juror” motion, asking Los Angeles Superior Judge Martin Herscovitz to find Thor not guilty notwithstanding the jury’s verdict.
Herscovitz said from the bench in the Van Nuys courtroom that he was “upset” with Geragos for filing the motions by fax at 4 PM yesterday but said he had no option but to grant the continuance to February 29, when the motions will be argued. Thor’s sentencing originally was set for October 9 then delayed to November 20 after Thor hired Geragos.
More than 100 people showed up at the Van Nuys courtroom today and many were turned away. A lottery system was used to admit spectators, and a bailiff told Deadline it was the first time he’d seen that in 10 years.
PREVIOUSLY, October 9: Acting coach Cameron Thor, who was convicted last month of lewd conduct with a minor, has obtained famed defense attorney Mark Geragos to fight the conviction. Sentencing, which was scheduled to take place today in Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys, CA, has been continued until November 20.
Thor, who appeared in court today in handcuffs and a blue LA County Jail jumpsuit, was convicted of lewd conduct with one of his students, Jordyn Ladell, when she was a 13-year-old eighth-grader. Thor has steadfastly maintained his innocence. Ladell and her family were also in court today.
Geragos, who replaces James Blatt as Thor’s attorney, is one of LA’s most prominent defense lawyers. His former clients included Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Sean Combs and singer Chris Brown.
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