On Wednesday morning, Sheryl Davis and James Spingola, the duo accused of funneling public dollars intended for nonprofit organizations to personal expenses — including Davis’ son’s tuition and luxury trips to Martha’s Vineyard — appeared in court for a second time.
This time, however, Spingola appeared without a permanent lawyer.
Randy Knox, who had previously represented Spingola, informed the court that Spingola’s arraignment, which was intended for Wednesday, would need to be pushed until May 29 to give Spingola time to find alternative representation. Knox then excused himself from the courtroom before Jeremy Blank, a criminal defense attorney, appeared to represent Spingola for the day.
“We’re attempting to locate someone to make an appearance,” said Blank, who made it clear he was making a “special appearance” and is not intending to represent Spingola for the rest of his case.
A probe into Davis’ spending in 2024 found that Davis had allocated over $1 million to Spingola’s nonprofit, Collective Impact, and that Davis failed to disclose that she shared a home and a vehicle with Spingola, creating a conflict of interest. Funding from Collective Impact was allegedly used to pay for numerous expenses on behalf of Davis.
Knox, a private defense attorney, declined to discuss his departure as Spingola’s counsel. Prosecutor Erin Loback, who appeared on behalf of the district attorney’s office, suggested that Spingola’s next lawyer will be court-appointed.
The public defender’s office confirmed it will not be representing Spingola. His nonprofit, Collective Impact, was formerly a fiscal sponsor for the public defender’s MAGIC program to support disadvantaged youth.
During a prior appearance in court last month, Knox told reporters that Spingola is intending to plead not guilty to four felony charges of aiding and abetting Davis in misspending funds. Davis, who is represented by high-profile criminal defense attorney Tony Brass, is also pleading not guilty to 17 felony counts.
Spingola also declined to comment to Mission Local as to why Knox is no longer representing him. Before entering the courtroom, Knox was seen emphatically conferring with Spingola in the hallway before Knox clapped Spingola on the back and the two men appeared before the judge.
Last month, Spingola appeared at Davis’ first court appearance in disguise, wearing a balaclava and an N-95 mask, before giving the middle finger to reporters who took his photo. When asked by reporters about the incident, Knox said that the move was “unwise and unnecessary.” Knox told Mission Local that the incident was not the reason he parted ways with Spingola.
Davis, who also appeared in court on Wednesday, will face her pre-hearing conference at the end of the month, likely on the same date Spingola will appear for his arraignment.
On Wednesday morning, the crowd of reporters and observers who appeared to watch Spingola and Davis’ court appearance had dwindled. Last month, supporters flowed into the courtroom hallway and crowded around Davis and Spingola, shielding them from the media. Davis and Spingola hugged friends and former colleagues who accompanied them to the courtroom, some throwing up a “thumbs up” sign to Spingola as he and Davis both left the courthouse separately.
Who else just picked Randy Knox for their San Francisco legal community fantasy blunt rotation?