Judge reduces bond to $150,000 for suspect in Valley freeway shootings
But defense says amount is still too much for Merritt
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has lowered the bond for Leslie Allen Merritt Jr., the man accused in a string of freeway shootings that terrorized the Valley in late summer.
Monday afternoon, Superior Court Judge Warren Granville lowered Merritt’s bond from $1 million to $150,000, citing the defendant’s lack of criminal history and negative drug-test results.
Granville’s announcement that he would modify Merritt’s release conditions elicited faint but audible cheers from the defendant’s supporters, many of whom were seated in the courtroom.
But the dollar amount, which Granville declared later, satisfied neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys.
Prosecutors had argued against any changes to Merritt’s release conditions. His defense attorneys said Merritt wouldn’t be able to come up with the money required for his release.
“One hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to him, is the same as a million,” said defense attorney Jason Lamm. Granville stood by his figure.
Before announcing his decision, Granville said he would seek assurances that Merritt would appear for court and not try to contact witnesses or victims.
Merritt said little during the hearing, but at one point, he offered his assurances that he would attend all court appearances. “I’ll be there,” he said. The Sept. 18 arrest of Merritt, 21, elicited a statewide celebration after a three-week manhunt that consumed Department of Public Safety troopers.
Merritt was indicted on charges related to four of the 11 freeway incidents. Those incidents occurred between Aug. 22 and Aug. 29, court documents say.
Merritt’s attorneys almost immediately argued that the state’s victory pronouncement was premature, citing phone records that allegedly show Merritt was talking to family members when the first two shootings took place.
Prosecutors had said they opposed holding an evidentiary hearing before the trial began, arguing that the defense wanted them to “jump a couple of steps.”
Caution is a good thing. We want our leaders to be cautious. Panic is not so good. And political pandering mixed with panic is even worse. Following the attack in Paris last week, a number of governors are attempting to keep Syrian refugees from coming to their states.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appears to be taking that one step further.
He’s asking for an “immediate halt to the placement of any new refugees in Arizona.” Here’s his statement: “Given the horrifying events in Paris last week, I am calling for an immediate halt in the placement of any new refugees in Arizona. As governor, I am invoking our state’s right under 8 USC, Section 1522 (a), to receive immediate consultation by federal authorities per the United States Refugee Act, and that the federal government take into account the concerns and recommendations of the state of Arizona as they are required to under federal law, in our efforts to keep our homeland safe. I also call on Congress and the President to immediately amend federal law to provide states greater oversight and authority in the administration of the placement of refugees. These acts serve as a reminder that the world remains at war with radical Islamic terrorists. Our national leaders must react with the urgency and leadership that every American expects to protect our citizens.”
Was even a minute of thought put into this? A small amount of how the refugee process works and what it means? And whom it helps?
Acting with “urgency and leadership” is a very good thing.
Acting — as in playacting, as in performing for an audience — is not so good.
Having a discussion about refugees and what we are going to do going forward would be useful.
But you can’t shed light on a subject by lighting your hair on fire.
That’s all Ducey is doing. Hysteria is not good. Causing an emotional stampede is not good.
Unnecessarily increasing the consternation and agitation and dread among regular folks is just about the last thing a “leader” is supposed to do.
A leader bases decisions on solid information, not ugly, biased presumptions. It’s the presidential election season, and we all expect the rhetoric to be ramped up on just about every subject.
At times like this, politicians talk tough. And because their words are just that — words — they’ll say just about anything.
A number of foolish, un-American governors and other politicians have suggested that we not admit Syrian refugees. Or that we focus on admitting Christian refugees.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who wants to be president, actually suggested such a ridiculous thing.
Our guy Ducey seems to go one step further. Rather than discriminate against one nationality or one religion, he seemingly wants us to discriminate against them all.
That’s not leadership. It’s weakness.