SAN ANTONIO – The attorney for James Cotter — a longtime business associate of Brad Simpson — is seeking changes to his client’s terms in the Bexar County Jail, accusing District Attorney Joe Gonzales and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar of trying to force Cotter to cooperate.
Attorney Robert Maurer told KSAT Friday afternoon that Cotter, who is facing felony charges of tampering with evidence with intent to obstruct an investigation and possession of prohibited weapons, has been sitting in a holding cell since his arrest. his on Monday.
Cotter’s bond on the felony charges was set by a magistrate judge at $1 million, court records show.
>> What we know about missing Olmos Park woman Suzanne Clark Simpson, arrest of husband Brad Simpson
Cotter appeared before District Court Judge Miguel Najera on Friday in an attempt to have his bond reduced. A bond reduction hearing is set for Nov. 4.
“Obviously they want to keep him in jail because they want to get him to cooperate,” Maurer said, calling the bond amount “ridiculous.”
Because he is not in a jail cell, Cotter does not have access to proper meals, communication and regular showers, Maurer said Friday after the brief hearing.
“This is probably the most unconstitutional and egregious action I have seen in my 30 years of practicing law,” Maurer said.
Cotter was taken into custody just over two weeks after Brad Simpson’s wife, Suzanne Clark Simpson, was reported missing. A law enforcement source told KSAT Tuesday that Cotter is accused of helping Brad Simpson hide a gun that could be connected to his wife’s disappearance.
An arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT on Tuesday accuses Cotter 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 Tuesday, then placed the charge back on Cotter that evening.
Cotter will be prohibited from possessing weapons, will be under full house arrest and must surrender his passport if he posts bond, court records show.
Cotter, 65, and Simpson, 53, have been partners in multiple real estate business ventures, background checks on the two men reveal.
The two were co-defendants in a 2012 lawsuit filed against Cotter’s company, Cotter & Sons Inc, according to court records.
>> TIME: Disappearance of Suzanne Clark Simpson, arrest of husband Brad Simpson
Simpson’s background check shows he was a manager at the company.
BJ Corporation, a janitorial company, sued Cotter & Sons for failing to pay for cleaning services at several buildings, according to the suit.
A jury ruled in favor of BJ Corporation in 2016, but ruled that they should receive nothing from Cotter and Simpson, court records show.
Affidavit reveals Cotter, Brad Simpson texted after Suzanne Simpson’s disappearance
A spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Cotter’s arresting agency, told KSAT Tuesday afternoon, “The Texas Rangers and OPPD (Olmos Park Police Department) arrested Mr. James Valle Cotter at his home yesterday. During the investigation of the Missing Person in Olmos Park, the investigators learned that Mr. Cotter had committed the crime of tampering with evidence, which is a third-degree felony. Mr. Cotter is a business associate of Mr. Brad Simpson, husband of Suzanne Simpson, who has been missing since 07-10-2024.
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 authorities have said Brad Simpson has not been cooperative.
Brad Simpson was originally arrested Oct. 9 in Kendall County on charges of assault causing bodily injury-domestic violence and unlawful restraint. He was transferred to the Bexar County Jail the next day.
On Tuesday, October 22, he was charged with tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to injure, as well as a prohibited weapons charge.
Brad Simpson remains in the Bexar County Jail on bonds totaling $3 million and has a federal inmate on a pending firearms charge.
According to Brad Simpson’s arrest warrant affidavit, the Texas Rangers obtained consent from Cotter to view Brad Simpson’s communications with Simpson on his cellphone.
On Oct. 8, the affidavit said Brad Simpson texted Cotter, saying, “If you’re in Bandera, can you get a ** and meet me at your house? I don’t have much time.” Simpson texted Cotter again, adding, “OK, make sure you leave all that s*** in the pump booth, especially that gun,” according to the affidavit.
The statement also includes a text from Brad Simpson, saying: “Sorry for the urgency but you are all I have especially right now… social media is destroying me.”
Almost two weeks later, a person who had previously provided accurate information about the investigation contacted the Olmos Park Police Department. The affidavit said the person told authorities that Brad Simpson had asked Cotter to go to his home in Olmos Park to get a “rifle.”
Read details on the affidavit here.
The search for Suzanne Clark Simpson is ongoing. The mother of four and Olmos Park realtor was last seen on Sunday, October 6.
Read more about the case:
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.