SAN ANTONIO – James Cotter, the longtime business partner of Brad Simpson, made his first court appearance on Thursday morning since his release on bond in November.
Cotter was formally charged in December 2024 in the case of missing Olmos Park mother Suzanne Clark Simpson.
Some bond modifications were made; however, Cotter’s GPS monitoring would stay in place.
The judge waived a 75-mile travel requirement. Cotter will be able to travel for work and to visit family without getting court approval, but he will still be tracked, the judge said.
A monthly urinalysis requirement was also removed. Cotter is still prohibited from contacting Brad Simpson, who has been charged with Suzanne Simpson’s murder and from possessing a firearm.
The prosecution said it was in the process of downloading about two terabytes worth of information from the respective agencies involved and would turn it over to the defense.
The judge requested the two parties should come back in two weeks, though no specific date for Cotter’s next appearance was revealed.
>> TIMELINE: Disappearance of Suzanne Clark Simpson, arrest of husband Brad Simpson
Cotter was indicted by a grand jury on two charges, including tampering with evidence with the intent to impair an investigation and possession of prohibited weapons, according to Bexar County Jail records.
Cotter posted bond on Nov. 8, 2024, after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $100,000. His attorney had asked a judge to reduce his bond after claiming it was unconstitutional.
Cotter is accused of helping Brad Simpson hide an AK-47 that was illegally modified. Authorities said the firearm was modified into a “machine gun,” which was not correctly registered.