Business partner Brad Simpson is in jail for five days and has no access to proper meals and showers

SAN ANTONIO – The lawyer of James Cotter – a long-time business partner of Brad Simpson – demands changes in his client’s conditions in the Bexar County Jail and accuses District Attorney Joe Gonzales and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar of coercing Cotter into cooperation.

Attorney Robert Maurer told KSAT Friday afternoon Cotterwho is accused of tampering with evidence with intent to obstruct an investigation and possession of prohibited weapons, has been in custody since his arrest on Monday.

Cotter’s bond on the misdemeanor charge was set by a magistrate judge at $1 million, court records show.

>> What we know about missing Olmos Park woman Suzanne Clark Simpson, husband Brad Simpson’s arrest

Cotter appeared before Judge Miguel Najera on Friday in an attempt to reduce the bail amount. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.

“It’s clear they want to keep him in jail because they want to force him to cooperate,” said Maurer, who called the bail amount “ridiculous.”

Because he is not in a jail cell, Cotter does not have access to proper meals, communication and regular showers, Maurer said Friday after the brief hearing.

“This is probably the most unconstitutional and egregious action I have seen in my 30 years as a lawyer,” Maurer said.

Cotter was taken into custody just over two weeks after Brad Simpson’s wife. Suzanne Clark Simpsonwas reported missing. A law enforcement source told KSAT on Tuesday that Cotter is accused of helping Brad Simpson conceal a weapon that may have been attached to his wife’s gun. disappearance case.

An arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT Tuesday accuses Cotter of hiding a gun in Cotter’s home on behalf of Brad Simpson.

On Cotter’s updated booking page, the prohibited weapons charge was removed during the day on Tuesday and the charge was placed back on Cotter that evening.

Cotter is prohibited from possessing weapons, placed on full house arrest and must surrender his passport if he surrenders bond, court records show.

>> TIMELINE: Disappearance of Suzanne Clark Simpson, arrest of husband Brad Simpson

Cotter, 65, and Simpson, 53, have been partners in several real estate ventures, according to background checks on the two men.

The two were co-defendants in a 2012 lawsuit filed against Cotter’s company, Cotter & Sons Inc., according to court records.

Simpson’s background check shows he was a manager at the company.

BJ Corporation, a cleaning company, sued Cotter & Sons for failing to pay for cleaning services at several buildings, according to the lawsuit.

A jury ruled in favor of BJ Corporation in 2016, but decided they could not take anything from Cotter and Simpson, court records show.

Affidavit reveals Cotter, Brad Simpson communicated via text message after Suzanne Simpson’s disappearance

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Cotter’s arresting agency, told KSAT on Tuesday afternoon: “The Texas Rangers and the OPPD (Olmos Park Police Department) arrested Mr. James Valle Cotter at his home yesterday. During the missing persons investigation in Olmos Park, investigators learned that Mr. Cotter had committed the offense of Tampering with Evidence, which is a felony of the third degree. Mr Cotter is a business associate of Mr Brad Simpson, husband of Suzanne Simpson, who has been missing since 10/07/2024.”

The spokesperson declined to release further details about Cotter’s arrest.

Cotter’s arrest came more than two weeks after Brad Simpson reported his wife, Suzanne Simpson, missing. Law enforcement authorities have said Brad Simpson is uncooperative.

Brad Simpson was initially arrested Oct. 9 in Kendall County on charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, family violence and unlawful restraint. The next day he was taken to the Bexar County Jail.

On He was charged on Tuesday, October 22 with tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to harm, as well as a prohibited weapons-related charge.

Brad Simpson remains in the Bexar County Jail on bonds totaling $3 million federal detainee on pending firearms charges.

According to Brad Simpson’s arrest warrant affidavit, Texas Rangers obtained permission from Cotter to search Brad Simpson’s communications with Simpson on his cell phone.

On Oct. 8, the affidavit said Brad Simpson texted Cotter saying, “If you’re in Bandera, can you bring a** and meet me at your house?” I don’t have much time.” Simpson messaged Cotter again, adding, “Okay, make sure you leave all that s*** in the pump house, especially that gun,” the affidavit said.

The affidavit also includes a text from Brad Simpson, in which he says: “Sorry for the urgency, but you’re all I have, especially right now…social media is killing me.”

Nearly two weeks later, an individual who had previously provided accurate information about the investigation contacted the Olmos Park Police Department. The affidavit stated that the person told authorities that Brad Simpson requested Cotter go to his home in Olmos Park to obtain a “gun.”

Read the details of the statement here.

The search for Suzanne Clark Simpson is ongoing. The Olmos Park mother of four and real estate agent was last seen on Sunday, October 6.

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