Attorneys seek to withdraw from former Marion police chief’s criminal case

MARION, Kan. (KWCH) — Attorneys for former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody have asked a district court judge to allow them to withdraw from his criminal case, citing an “actual conflict of interest” and a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. Cody is charged with one felony count of interfering with the judicial process. Prosecutors allege he attempted to persuade a witness to hide text messages from investigators, stemming from the August 2023 raid on the Marion County Record newspaper. - Related Stories: Former Marion police chief’s trial postponed until summer Wichita attorneys Sal Intagliata and Audra Asher of Triad Legal filed the motion Wednesday in Marion County District Court. The filing states that representation has been made “unreasonably difficult” by Cody and that the attorneys can no longer effectively represent him as required under the U.S. and Kansas constitutions. The motion cites Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct, which allow lawyers to withdraw when a client insists on objectives the attorney considers “repugnant or imprudent,” when representation becomes unreasonably difficult, or for other good cause. A hearing on the motion to withdraw is scheduled for Aug. 5. The motion asks District Judge Ryan Rosauer to allow the attorneys to withdraw immediately and requests the hearing be held at the Marion County Courthouse. A jury trial in the felony case is currently set for Aug. 28. Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com