Eustace Mullins Close Friend Still in Jail

March 29, 2011

By Dan Cunningham

Las Animas, CO -- The close friend who was with Eustace Mullins (Secrets of the Federal Reserve) when he died remains in a Bent County, Colorado jail more than three weeks after he was arrested following a traffic stop.
Jesse Lee, also known as Jesse Temple, was leaving Bent County for his home in Texas on March 3 when he pulled over near Hasty, Colorado on U. S. Highway 50 to check a tire.
A sheriff’s deputy stopped at the scene and reportedly became suspicious of the license plates on Lee’s RV. Backup was requested and it is reported that when lawmen tried to contact Lee he locked himself in his RV. The vehicle was reportedly broken into and Lee was forcefully removed and placed in custody during the incident.
Court records show Lee is currently being held under suspicion of no driver’s license; obstructing government operation; no registration card; fictitious plates; uninsured vehicle on a public road and failure to provide proof of insurance.
He initially was held under the name John Doe but by his second court appearance before County Judge Mark MacDonnell he was identified as Jesse Lee
During a second court appearance the following week Judge MacDonnell attempted to advise the suspect of his rights.
Each time the judge advised him of a right, Lee responded:
“I do not understand.”
The judge asked Lee how far he had gotten in school, did he have a high school diploma?
Lee asked why that was necessary.
“This is not a federal case,” the judge said.
Lee continued to say that he did not understand the proceedings and said lawmen “had broken into his vehicle“
The judge said he did not want to see Lee sitting in jail and he several times suggested the defendant could post bond. Several of Lee‘s local friends were in the court room and they were prepared to raise the money needed to post bond.
The judge asked a public defender to initiate competency hearing for Lee, but the attorney declined, saying he did not have enough information on the case and that the court itself could order a mental evaluation of the suspect.
At one point in the hearing Lee declined to state his name.
“You are not getting my name. It is private. I give it to no one,” Lee said.
MacDonnell offered Lee a chance to be released from jail under a personal recognizance bond, however the suspect declined to sign any forms with his name.
“I am a trustee of that name. I cannot betray that trust,” he told the judge.
When MacDonnell scheduled another hearing for April 13, Lee said he had not eaten for eight days and would not last that long.
Since then, Lee has reportedly begun eating and was sent to Pueblo for a mental health evaluation. Friends attempted to visit Lee in jail but the visits were denied because jailers said the prisoner was not cooperating.
Lee has told friend in Las Animas that prominent patriot writer Eustace Mullins was staying in his home when he passed away last year.