SAN ANTONIO – James Cotter’s lawyer – long-term business partner brad simpson — accuses District Attorney Joe Gonzales and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar of trying to coerce Cotter into cooperating, and requests changes to his client’s conditions in the Bexar County Jail.

Attorney Robert Maurer told KSAT Friday afternoon. cotterThe suspect, who faces charges of tampering with evidence with intent to harm the investigation and possession of a prohibited weapon, has been held in custody since his arrest on Monday.

Court records show Cotter’s bond on the felony charge was set at $1 million by a magistrate judge.

>> What we know about the arrest of missing Olmos Park woman Suzanne Clark Simpson and her husband Brad Simpson

Cotter appeared before pre-indictment trial court Judge Miguel Najera on Friday in an attempt to reduce his bond. The bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.

“Obviously they want to keep him in jail because they want to force him to cooperate,” Maurer said, calling the bail amount “ridiculous.”

After a brief hearing on Friday, Maurer said Cotter did not have the opportunity to eat properly, communicate and shower regularly because he was not in a jail cell.

“This is probably the most unconstitutional, egregious act I have seen in my 30 years of practicing law,” Maurer said.

Cotter was taken into custody two weeks after Brad Simpson’s wife. Suzanne Clark SimpsonHe was reported missing. Cotter is accused of helping Brad Simpson hide a gun possibly connected to his wife, a law enforcement source told KSAT on Tuesday. disappearance case.

In an arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT on Tuesday, Cotter is accused of hiding a rifle in the name of Brad Simpson at Cotter’s home.

Cotter’s updated booking page removed the prohibited weapons charge during the day on Tuesday and then returned the charge to Cotter that evening.

Court records show Cotter will be banned from carrying a gun, will be under full house arrest and must surrender his passport if he posts bond.

>> TIMELINE: Disappearance of Suzanne Clark Simpson, arrest of husband Brad Simpson

It was revealed that 65-year-old Cotter and 53-year-old Simpson were partners in more than one real estate venture, and the backgrounds of the two men were investigated.

The two were co-defendants in a 2012 lawsuit against Cotter’s company, Cotter & Sons Inc., according to court records.

Simpson’s background check shows he was an executive at the company.

According to the lawsuit, BJ Corporation, a cleaning company, sued Cotter & Sons for failure to pay for cleaning services at various buildings.

Court records show a jury ruled in favor of BJ Corporation in 2016 but decided they shouldn’t get anything from Cotter and Simpson.

The affidavit revealed that Cotter and Brad Simpson communicated via text message after Suzanne Simpson’s disappearance.

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Cotter’s arresting agency, told KSAT Tuesday afternoon: “Texas Rangers and OPPD (Olmos Park Police Department) arrested Mr. James Valle Cotter at his home yesterday. During the Missing Person investigation in Olmos Park, investigators learned that Mr. Cotter had committed the crime of Tampering with Evidence, a 3rd Degree Felony. Mr. Cotter is the business partner of Mr. Brad Simpson, husband of Suzanne Simpson, who has been missing since 07.07.2024.”

The spokesman declined to provide additional details about Cotter’s arrest.

Cotter’s arrest late Monday came more than two weeks after Brad Simpson reported his wife, Suzanne Simpson, missing. Law enforcement officials said Brad Simpson was uncooperative.

Brad Simpson initially Arrested in Kendall County on October 9 on charges of assault causing bodily injury-domestic violence and unlawful restraint. He was transferred to the Bexar County Jail the next day.

Open He was charged on Tuesday, October 22 tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to cause harm, as well as a prohibited weapons charge.

Brad Simpson remains in Bexar County Jail on a total bond of $3 million and federal detainee on pending felony firearms charge.

According to Brad Simpson’s arrest warrant affidavit, the Texas Rangers obtained permission from Cotter to review Brad Simpson’s communications with Simpson on his cell phone.

The Oct. 8 affidavit stated that Brad Simpson sent a text message to Cotter, saying: “If you’re in Bandera, can you get in a car and meet me at your house? I don’t have much time.” According to the affidavit, Simpson texted Cotter again and said, “Okay, make sure you leave all this bullshit, especially the gun, in the pump room.”

The affidavit also includes a text from Brad Simpson: “I’m sorry for the urgency but especially right now you’re all I have…social media is destroying me.”

Approximately two weeks later, the Olmos Park Police Department was contacted by a person who had previously provided accurate information regarding the investigation. The man told authorities that Brad Simpson asked Cotter to go to his home in Olmos Park to get a “rifle,” the affidavit said.

Read the details of the affidavit Here.

Call Suzanne Clark Simpson continues. The real estate agent, a mother of four living in Olmos Park, was last seen on Sunday, October 6.

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