Maui man’s bail reduced to $200K

He expressed concerns over COVID-19 in jail

WAILUKU — A man who said he was at high risk of contracting COVID-19 at the Maui Community Correctional Center had his bail cut in half Tuesday.

Marcus Ruggiero, 55, thanked the court after his bail was reduced from $415,000 to $200,000.

He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree attempted murder for allegedly driving toward police officer Nichole Paclib as she was responding to a reckless driving call in Kula on Aug. 16.

Appearing by videoconference from the Wailuku jail, Ruggiero said he was in quarantine because of eight positive COVID-19 cases reported at the jail.

Ruggiero said he suffers from asthma, high blood pressure, gout and chronic back pain.

“I’m asking for bail reduction to make it at least affordable so I can have a possibility of bailing out,” he said. “I’m just asking for a chance.”

He said he was housed in Module B, calling it “the central station where everyone comes in.” He said inmates who had tested positive were in a room connected by air vents to the room he’s in.

“I’m under chronic care right now,” he said. “It’s a touch-and-go situation. There’s eight cases already. It’s not if, it’s when. It’s just going to get worse down here.

“Right now, it’s spooky.” Ruggiero said he is a Maui High School graduate who has worked roofing jobs, including to build the jail.

His attorney, Steven Slavitt, said Ruggiero has family on Maui and isn’t a flight risk.

Deputy Prosecutor Carson Tani opposed the bail reduction, saying Ruggiero was both a flight risk and danger to the community.

Ruggiero has 11 contempt-of-court convictions and was sent to prison for drug offenses in 2005 and 2015, Tani said.

“Here he is back in court again,” Tani said.

From July 31 to Aug. 6, in the two weeks before Ruggiero’s latest arrest, he was involved in at least 15 episodes of refusing to stop his vehicle for police, Tani said. He said Ruggiero doesn’t have a driver’s license.

Ruggiero said the contempt-of-court convictions were for traffic offenses over 20 years ago.

“I’ve always made my court dates,” he said.

Second Circuit Judge Kelsey Kawano noted Ruggiero’s strong ties to the community, employment and residence, as well as his prior criminal record and the charge he faces, in reducing bail.