Deaner elected Metro public defender

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer • September 16, 2008 The Metro Council just elected Dawn Deaner to be Metro’s public defender for the next 20 months. Deaner, an associate public defender since 2003, takes over the position that Ross Alderman held until his death in a motorcycle accident last month. She will be eligible to run for countywide election in May 2010. Deaner received 26 of 39 votes, defeating four other candidates on the first ballot. Contact Michael Cass at 259-8838 or mcass@tennessean.com

'Wooded Rapist' suspect appointed public defender

Suspected "wooded rapist" Jason Burdick appeared in criminal court with public defender Gary Tamkin, right, during an arraignment hearing.
(JOHN PARTIPILO / THE TENNESSEAN)

By CHRIS ECHEGARAY • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • May 14, 2008

The man accused of being the Wooded Rapist was appointed a public defender after he filled out paperwork claiming he was indigent at his arraignment this morning.

Robert Jason Burdick, 38, already facing charges in two other counties, entered the standard not guilty plea in front of Judge Seth Norman.

Two victims sat in the courtroom looking at who they think attacked them. One of the women claims to have bitten Burdick during the attack. The women declined to comment. .

Burdick is suspected in at least 13 rapes and other sexual related charges stemming from attacks between 1994 and 2008 in Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties.

He has been held without bail since his May 1 arrest on Interstate 24 in Rutherford County. Senior Assistant District Attorney General Roger Moore says it’s a high-profile case that’s important to the community. “How big this case is, I’ll answer when it’s over,” Moore says. “It’s important to our office and it’s important to the community.”Burdick’s lawyer, Gary Tamkin,

declined to comment.