Federal magistrate denies Cedar Rapids landlord motion for new attorney

A U.S. Magistrate today denied Cedar Rapids landlord Robert Miell's motion for a new attorney.

Miell filed a motion asking the court to dismiss his attorney Alfredo Parrish, of Des Moines, due to ineffective counsel. Parrish was Miell's fifth lawyer in this criminal case.

Magistrate Jon Scoles ruled Miell's complaints of Parrish “appear to be without merit. The court believes it is unlikely defendant will be satisfied with any attorney in this case.”

Scoles said appointment of a new attorney would further delay this case that started two years ago. It's in the defendant's best interest to deny the motion, he said in the ruling.

Miell pleaded guilty in federal court to 18 counts of mail fraud and two counts of perjury, and was convicted by a jury of two counts of tax fraud in January 2009. The charges stem from Miell fraudulently reporting more than $336,000 in storm damage on 145 properties to American Family Insurance.

Miell's sentencing is set for June.