Former Turkey Leg Hut co-owner Lynn Price is fighting to keep evidence out of court in the federal arson case tied to the 2020 fire at Bar 5015.
Lynn’s attorneys have filed a motion asking a federal judge to either throw out evidence or dismiss the entire case, claiming his Sixth Amendment rights and right to a fair trial have been violated.
In court documents filed Friday, Lynn‘s legal team argues that he had a long-standing attorney-client relationship with Letitia Quinones-Hollins, who now represents his co-defendant, John Lee Price. They allege Quinones-Hollins facilitated conversations between John Lee Price and federal prosecutors that worked against Lynn.
Lynn is facing three federal charges for allegedly orchestrating the arson that damaged Bar 5015 in June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty and continues to maintain his innocence.
TIMELINE: The legal saga and controversies of Turkey Leg Hut in Houston
The newly filed motion requests that any statements or evidence involving John Lee Price be suppressed or that the indictment against Lynn be dismissed altogether.
A closer look
According to a motion filed in federal court last week, Lynn and attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins’ relationship dates back to at least 2020, when Quinones-Hollins represented Lynn in a separate federal case in Houston.
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The filing claims that while Quinones-Hollins was still representing Lynn, the alleged arson at Bar 5015 took place between April and June 2020. Lynn‘s attorneys argue that because of the ongoing relationship, the attorney had a duty to protect his rights even after that case concluded.
Court documents also reveal that after John Lee Price was charged in a separate Mississippi drug case in 2023, he quickly agreed to cooperate with federal investigators in the unsolved Houston arson case. Attorneys for Lynn allege that Quinones-Hollins helped facilitate those proffer sessions and plea negotiations while knowing she previously represented Lynn, creating a conflict of interest.
The motion claims that federal prosecutors should have flagged the conflict but did not, and that key evidence, including statements from John Lee Price implicating Lynn in the arson, resulted from multiple meetings arranged with the assistance of Quinones-Hollins.
In their argument, Lynn‘s attorneys wrote: “At minimum, the Government should have inquired into the apparent conflict of interest, but did not. Likewise, Attorney Quinones-Hollins failed to protect Mr. Price’s rights when she was made aware by John Lee Price of his desire to cooperate against Mr. Price and contacted the Government to facilitate a proffer session implicating Mr. Price.”
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As a result, the defense is asking a federal judge to either dismiss the indictment or suppress any evidence connected to John Lee Price, arguing that Lynn‘s Sixth Amendment rights and right to a fair trial have been violated.
Statement from Letitia Quiñones-Hollins:
“The allegations made are not true and the facts will be flushed out as they are.”
She added that Lynn Price has had other court cases since 2021 and she did not represent him.
In full disclosure, Letitia Quinones-Hollins has been used as a legal analyst for KPRC 2 prior, unrelated court cases.
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