The contempt hearing, which was originally set for Oct. 29, was rescheduled for Nov. 25, but was not held. The hearing was again reset for December, but it is unclear whether the hearing was heard by Special District Judge Dennis Sprouse or if it was rescheduled. As of Wednesday, Sprouse had not returned phone calls from Your TIMES.
The court has placed a gag order on the case, preventing Whitworth from discussing the case.
Assistant District Attorney Steve Ramm said the state doesn't take part in Whitworth's hearing since it is between the judge and Whitworth.
Sprouse filed the contempt of court citation after Whitworth was late for a 1:30 p.m. sentence revocation hearing in October in which he was scheduled to appear in court with a client.
Sprouse gave Whitworth notice that he was instituting contempt proceedings and said that Whitworth's tardiness is "part of a pattern of conduct for which the court has had numerous discussions in chambers with Whitworth about being dilatory in appearing before the court," according to court records.
According to court records signed by Sprouse, the contempt proceedings against Whitworth were for his "disorderly and insolent behavior" by misrepresenting to the court the reason for his tardiness, along with his unexcused tardiness as another incident in a pattern of tardiness to a scheduled court proceeding. He was also being cited with contempt because he did not check in with the court to advise of his delay, which disrupted court proceedings.
