A Florida judge has delivered a significant blow to the prosecution in the computer hacking case involving OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney and her parents. Judge Laura Shearon Cruz ruled on Wednesday to exclude crucial evidence, citing a violation of attorney-client privilege. The ruling centers around prosecutors accessing private conversations between the Clenneys and their legal team.
young woman with long curly hair wears an orange prison jumper in court.Courtney Clenney during a court appearance in Miami-Dade on June 26, 2024. The hearing focused on her motion to suppress evidence. (Court TV)
This “computer hacking” case is separate from the high-profile second-degree murder charge Clenney faces for the 2022 stabbing death of her boyfriend, Christian Obumseli, in their Miami apartment. Clenney maintains she acted in self-defense.
The now-excluded group text messages came to light during the murder investigation, leading to the separate hacking charges against Clenney and her parents, Kim and Deborah Clenney. The state accused them of attempting to access Obumseli’s laptop after Clenney’s arrest, allegedly with her assistance from jail. Judge Cruz’s decision effectively grants the Clenney family’s motion to suppress this communication evidence, which constituted a substantial portion of the prosecution’s case. While the judge’s initial two-page order didn’t address the related motion to dismiss the charges entirely, a more detailed ruling is anticipated.
Unlocking the Laptop: A Deeper Dive into the Allegations
The Clenney family argues that Courtney and Obumseli shared the laptop, which law enforcement left behind after searching their condo. Courtney’s parents retrieved it, and subsequent group texts, exchanged while Courtney was incarcerated, detailed discussions between her parents and lawyers regarding accessing the device. According to the defense’s motion to suppress, Courtney provided the four-digit access code. Critically, the defense asserts that “once it was determined that the laptop could be accessed, it was closed, and no files were reviewed or accessed.”
Law enforcement, however, obtained a search warrant for the iCloud accounts of Courtney and her parents, uncovering these very group texts. The Clenneys’ legal team contends that these messages not only led to the laptop’s seizure from a defense expert’s home but also formed the foundation of the hacking charges.
5 people on a bench in court but the focus is on an older couple who look worried.Kim and Deborah Clenney, Courtney Clenney’s parents, in court on June 26, 2024, awaiting the judge’s ruling on their motion to suppress. (Court TV)
The Crux of the Matter: Attorney-Client Privilege
A central argument revolved around whether Courtney’s lawyers also represented her parents, establishing an attorney-client relationship. The defense maintained that this relationship commenced immediately after Obumseli’s death on April 3, 2022, formalized by a signed retainer agreement on September 22, 2022, submitted to the court.
Judge Cruz’s order states, “The communication sought to be excluded by the parties is protected by attorney-client privilege and/or work product privilege. This privilege was violated, albeit perhaps unknowingly, when the communication was read by prosecutors in this case.” The judge deemed the appropriate remedy to be the exclusion of the communication as evidence.
Implications and Future Developments
This ruling significantly weakens the prosecution’s case against the Clenneys in the computer hacking charges. The exclusion of the key evidence raises questions about the viability of the remaining case. The legal community and the public await Judge Cruz’s more comprehensive ruling, which will likely address the motion to dismiss and provide further insight into the legal reasoning behind this pivotal decision. This case highlights the complex intersection of digital evidence, attorney-client privilege, and the legal ramifications of accessing electronic devices in criminal investigations. The upcoming ruling will undoubtedly have significant implications for the Clenney family and set a precedent for future cases involving similar legal issues.
This new update on Courtney Clenney’s legal battles provides a deeper understanding of the ongoing complexities surrounding the case. The exclusion of key evidence presents a substantial challenge for the prosecution, and the future of the computer hacking charges remains uncertain.
