South Carolina

BONUS EPISODE: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE TIGER KING

Summary / Introduction

In this special bonus episode of the Direct Examination Podcast, co-hosts Amber Fulmer, Dane Phillips, and Joseph Bias reunite virtually during COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates for a lighthearted discussion centered on Netflix’s pop-culture phenomenon, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. The hosts address earlier comments about the coronavirus, share a major career update from Amber regarding her move to a new law firm, and provide a legal and comedic breakdown of Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and the bizarre cast of characters in the Oklahoma big-cat saga.

Key Topics Covered

• Pandemic Disclaimer: The hosts acknowledge the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and clarify lighthearted remarks made in earlier recorded episodes.

• Amber’s Career Announcement: Following Vance Strickland’s election to the Richland County Family Court bench, Amber announces her transition from the Moore Taylor Law Firm to join the Law Offices of Jowette Dooley in Lexington, SC.

• Fan-Favorite Tiger King Characters:

  • John Reinke: The no-nonsense, legless zookeeper praised for his straightforwardness.

  • Saff (Kelci Saffery): The dedicated zookeeper who returned to work days after losing an arm to a tiger bite.

  • Tim Stark: The blunt Indiana exotic animal handler.

  • James Garretson: The strip-club owner turned FBI informant whose dramatic jet-ski scene became an instant internet meme.

• Legal Analysis of Joe Exotic’s Federal Trial:

  • Federal Charge Stacking: Dane Phillips analyzes how federal prosecutors combined murder-for-hire charges with Endangered Species Act/Lacey Act wildlife violations.

  • Joinder vs. Severance: How federal joinder rules differ from South Carolina state court practice regarding multi-count indictments.

  • Carole Baskin & Don Lewis: The circumstantial evidence, missing body, and lack of forensic proof surrounding Don Lewis’s 1997 disappearance.

  • Legality of Gay Polygamy: Amber clarifies that polygamy remains illegal under federal and state law regardless of marital gender composition.

Transcript

An edited transcript of the episode is included below.

Amber Fulmer: Hey y’all! Welcome to a special Tiger King edition of the Direct Examination Podcast! I’m Amber Fulmer!

Dane Phillips: I’m Dane Phillips.

Joseph Bias: And I’m Joseph Bias. Welcome back, everybody! When we recorded our season finale with Chief Justice Costa Pleicones, we didn’t know the world was going to go crazy!

Dane Phillips: I want to apologize if anyone listened to my jokes about the coronavirus on that episode before we knew how serious it was going to get. Stay safe, wash your hands, and stay home.

Joseph Bias: Before we get into Tiger King, Amber has a major professional announcement to share!

Amber Fulmer: Yes! Since we last recorded, my former law partner Vance Strickland was elected to the Richland County Family Court bench. I’ve made the move to join my friend Jowette Dooley at the Law Offices of Jowette Dooley in Lexington! My practice remains focused on family law, and clients can reach me at 803-929-7704 or via email at amber@jdooleylaw.com.

Joseph Bias: Congratulations, Amber! Now, let’s talk about the show that has taken over the internet while everyone is quarantined: Tiger King. Dane, how did you get hooked?

Dane Phillips: A group of lawyer friends in a group text told me I had to watch it. I turned on episode one late at night and ended up staying up until 3:00 AM Binge-watching. It’s absolute madness!

Amber Fulmer: I saw it all over my Facebook feed. Five minutes into the first episode, I was like, “What is this show?” You think Joe Exotic is crazy, and then they introduce Carole Baskin, Doc Antle, and Jeff Lowe!

Joseph Bias: Who is everyone’s favorite character outside of Joe and Carole?

Dane Phillips: John Reinke, the head zookeeper who lost both his legs. Out of everyone on that sanctuary, he seemed like the only genuine, honest person telling his truth.

Amber Fulmer: I loved Tim Stark because he was just so unfiltered and blunt! But Saff was an absolute ride-or-die employee. Getting your arm ripped off by a tiger, going back to work five days later, and sitting in a junkyard lawn chair for your interview is legendary!

Joseph Bias: Saff is incredible. But my personal favorite moment in the entire documentary has to be James Garretson, the FBI informant, riding a jet-ski in slow motion in a child-sized life jacket to “Eye of the Tiger”! He definitely demanded that the producers film him on a jet-ski before he agreed to sign his appearance waiver!

Dane Phillips: From a criminal defense standpoint, looking at Joe Exotic’s federal trial is fascinating. In federal court, prosecutors love stacking charges. They took a murder-for-hire allegation and tacked on 17 wildlife violations for killing five tigers and selling cubs under the Lacey Act. In state court, a defense lawyer could sever those charges easily. But in federal court, jury members hear about tiger killings and instantly dislike the defendant before even evaluating the murder-for-hire claim.

Amber Fulmer: What about Carole Baskin and her missing husband, Don Lewis?

Dane Phillips: It looks suspicious on camera, but legally, there is zero physical or forensic evidence. Without a body, a timeline, or physical proof connecting her to his disappearance, you cannot convict someone beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Joseph Bias: Amber, as our family law expert, was Joe Exotic’s marriage to two men at the same time legal?

Amber Fulmer: Absolutely not! Polygamy is illegal across the entire United States, regardless of whether the marriage is same-sex or opposite-sex. That three-way wedding ceremony was purely for show.

Joseph Bias: This show has been an unbelievable distraction for everyone staying safe at home.

Dane Phillips: Remember to stay safe, listen to the law, and don’t feed your husband to tigers!

Joseph Bias: Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SCLawPod, follow Joseph @JosephPBias, Dane @SCCrimLawyer, and Amber @RedJudicata. Stay safe, everyone!