Lawyered Up! Amber Portwood Hires High-Powered Attorney To Try To Escape Prison Time

August 2 court papers obtained from Marion Superior Court reveal Portwood, 29, has hired Matthew Kubacki from the Indiana firm Banks & Brower, LLC to represent her in her criminal case.

Portwood’s “skilled trial attorney” focuses on criminal, family, civil and appellate law, his website reads. He began his legal career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Marion County, where he handled “hundreds, if not thousands” of cases ranging from juvenile to major felony. Before joining Banks & Brower, he opened his own law office where he handled criminal cases.

According to an Affidavit of Probable Cause, Amber “went to her drawer and took a handful of Klonopin and tossed it back like it was nothing,” the court papers read. When he threatened to call the police, she “regurgitated the pills.” Andrew locked himself and their son in a room when she picked up a machete, which she had in her home for protection. “She hit the door with the machete and kicked the door and broke the handle,” the report read. He then texted 911 for help.

Amber denied the incident with the pills and machete, but admitted to hitting him with a shoe while he was holding their son. The court papers claim she became upset when Andrew recorded her “yelling.”

And the State of Indiana is ready for war, as the evidence listed includes audio recording from the July 5, 2019 incident at her Indiana home, audio recording of July 4, 2019 incident, including email explaining car ride audio, three Ring videos, which is doorbell footage, and 22 photos provided by the Indiana Metropolitan Police Department, court papers read.

In the State’s Notice of Discovery Compliance filed on August 9, 2019, her defense attorney “may review the prosecutor’s file by appointment during the pendency of this case.” A copy of the Preliminary Report of Alleged Child Abuse or Neglect will be forwarded to the defense counsel.

On July 9, Andrew filed paperwork requesting sole legal and primary physical custody of their son. He requested Amber have supervised visitation.

The court papers read, “Father believes Mother is currently unable to provide a safe, stable and secure environment for James on an ongoing basis due to her frequent refusal and/or failure to take medicines prescribed to treat her mental-health conditions, among other concerns.” A no-contact order was put in place to protect Andrew, 35, and James.

Andrew hired Kele M. Bosaw of Owens Bosaw for his custody case, court papers filed on August 6, 2019 reveal. She’s been with her firm since 2013, focusing on family law and general legal matters.