BEND, Ore. – A Deschutes County judge on Monday rejected a motion from Caleb Cegers, a 21-year-old man accused of second-degree murder in the August 2023 fatal shooting of Taylor Wyss, seeking a new court-appointed lawyer. Cegers, who is currently being held without bail, alleged that his defense attorneys had mistreated him, claiming they yelled at him, called him derogatory names, and failed to maintain proper communication.
In a hearing before Circuit Judge Beth Bagley, Cegers expressed frustration with his legal representation, specifically accusing attorney Lisa Valenta and co-counsel Dylan Potter of abandoning him. He claimed that Valenta had not contacted him for six months after taking on the case and described numerous incidents where she allegedly yelled at him and even called him “stupid.”
“I’ve found it extremely difficult to get in contact with Miss Valenta,” Cegers said during the video conference from the county jail. “She’s flaked on me and doesn’t show up as promised. She’s yelled, cussed, and screamed at me on multiple occasions.”
Cegers also described a meeting where Valenta allegedly dismissed his concerns with a shrug and a statement: “So what? I didn’t have the time.” He extended similar complaints about Potter, indicating a breakdown in their professional relationship.
Despite Cegers’ objections, Judge Bagley did not find sufficient cause to grant his request for new attorneys. “I’m not convinced that’s what happened, Mr. Cegers. They are good lawyers,” Bagley stated, addressing the accusations. She acknowledged that while the attorney-client relationship may have had some strain, both Valenta and Potter were qualified to handle a trial of this magnitude.
Judge Bagley emphasized that the legal team would need to work on repairing their relationship moving forward. She also noted that, although Cegers may not always agree with his lawyers’ advice, it was ultimately their responsibility to guide him through the case. The judge further explained that attorneys have multiple clients and cannot meet with a defendant every day, a reality Cegers would need to accept.
In an exchange that highlighted the tension between Cegers and his lawyers, the defendant reiterated his dissatisfaction with being represented by someone he accused of calling him “stupid.” Judge Bagley responded by suggesting that Cegers could choose to represent himself or hire new counsel, but she strongly discouraged both options.
“We’re not going to push this trial into 2026,” Bagley added, emphasizing that the trial would be held before the end of the year. “This trial will be conducted this year.”
The case revolves around the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Taylor Wyss outside a downtown Bend bar in August 2023. Cegers faces several charges, including second-degree murder. The defense team’s motions for expert witnesses, including a ballistics expert, were also discussed during the hearing.
Ultimately, Judge Bagley set a new hearing date for next Monday and urged both sides to coordinate on selecting trial dates, with the aim of moving the case toward resolution later in 2025.
As the proceedings continue, Cegers’ dissatisfaction with his defense team may influence the overall trajectory of the case, but for now, the legal team remains intact, and the trial will proceed as planned.
