Convicted militia leader Schaeffer Cox fires attorney

Three weeks after his conviction in federal court, Fairbanks militia leader Schaeffer Cox has fired his attorney, saying he was ineffective.

Defense attorney Nelson Taverso filed a motion Monday seeking to be relieved from the case, which concluded with Cox’s conviction last month on federal weapons charges and conspiracy to murder.

In his motion, Traverso says Cox is “extremely dissatisfied with counsel’s representation and expressly requests that any further attorney-client representation be terminated.”

The motion says Cox contends Traverso provided “ineffective assistance.”

Under court rules, the judge who presided over the trial would have to approve the attorney’s withdrawal.

Cox hasn’t said whether he will appeal his convictions on nine of 11 counts.

Cox and two co-defendants are set to be sentenced in September.

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