Maurice Green. Courtesy: Knox County Jail
The man accused of shooting another man to death over a game of dice will not be allowed to see his children in jail after a court struck down his visitation motion.
District Court Judge John Wright denied the motion, filed pro se by 43 year old Maurice Green, after hearing testimony from Des Moines County Jail Administrator Doug Ervine. Ervine told the court that it would be a violation of federal law to allow those under the age of 18 to enter the jail, and that exceptions have never been made at the Des Moines County Jail.
Green’s attorney, Phil Ramirez, argued that allowing Green visitation rights would “quell the chaos” in Green’s family home. Judge Wright said that he doesn’t believe there is any more chaos in his home than that of someone else charged with a crime.
A second pro se motion was withdrawn during the hearing. That motion sought a change of venue away from Des Moines County. Ramirez told Judge Wright that he planned to resubmit that motion on behalf of Green this week.
Green has been jailed since mid-April on $2 million bond after authorities say he shot Matthew Banks to death at a home on Jefferson Street, following a disagreement over a dice game.
Green has pled not guilty. His trial has been scheduled for August 11th at 9:00am. It’s expected to go for five days.
