On Friday, conservative scholar Dinesh D’Souza pleaded not guilty to charges that he violated campaign finance laws. The filmmaker behind the anti-Obama documentary “2016: Obama’s America” was released on $500,000 bond, which some — even in the legal community — argue was excessive.
We looked into these claims and uncovered a number of violent and disturbing offenses that resulted in bail amounts less than D’Souza was required to put up. While it’s not a comprehensive list by any means, here are nine cases where violent suspects had to put up less for bail than D’Souza:
A former convict accused of robbing 4 people and raping one of them
In 2007, a Chicago judge set bail for former convict Darnell Richmond at $400,000 on charges that he robbed or attempted to rob four people, raping one of them, just three months after he was released from prison, the Chicago Tribune reports.
That was after Richmond’s bail was increased from $150,000, when he was accused of only two counts of attempted robbery. He was later indicted for additional attempted robbery charges and sexual assault.
A man accused of trying to kill a police officer
Bail for a man in Puna, Hawaii, accused of trying to murder a police officer was reset to $400,000 in December 2013 after several missing affidavits relating to the case were found.
When the probable-cause documents known as Riverside affidavits first went missing, a judge told prosecutors that suspect Joseph Feliciano’s bail would have to be reduced from $558,000 to $25,000. When the missing documents were located his bail was increased to $400,000.
A man accused of holding elderly men in a “dungeon”
In July of 2013, a Houston man accused of holding a group of elderly men captive in what was described as a “prison room” or “dungeon” was held in a Harris County jail in lieu of $400,000 bail.
Houston police arrived at suspect Walter Renard Jones’ house to find the prisoners living in “deplorable conditions.” Jones previously faced charges for marijuana possession, theft and failure to register as a sex offender.
A man accused of attempted murder
In January of this year, police arrested Joseph Boyd, 28, who allegedly tried to gun down an unidentified victim in Camden, N.J. The man’s victim reportedly suffered wounds to his hand and hip.
He was booked at Camden County Jail in lieu of $400,000 bail, cash or bond.
A 42-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting a teen
In January 2014, 42-year-old Barry Eltman was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old family member, his bail was set at $450,000.
A man accused of raping his adult sister
On Jan. 17, the Democrat-Herald reported that 46-year-old Timothy Wayne Maine was booked on charges of first-degree rape, incest, first-degree sexual abuse, coercion and attempted sodomy.
He was held on $450,000 bond.
A man who robbed a woman and then raped her twice behind a container
In December of 2013, a judge in Cook County, Ill., set bail at $400,000 for a man accused of robbing a woman and then raping her twice behind a large container.
Devonte Willis, 30, was reportedly armed at the time of the alleged assault and asked the woman what she was willing to do to save her life.
A man accused of felony child abuse on his own newborn child
Police in Smithfield, N.C., arrived at the home of Jon Michael Jones, 22, to find his newborn baby unconscious and not breathing. Officers were able to perform life-saving measures until paramedics arrived.
In December 2013, Jones was arrested and charged with one count of intentional child abuse and inflicting serious injury. His bail was set at $400,000.
A man charged with multiple counts of rape
On Wednesday, WHNT-TV reported Gaspar Perez-Bartolo, 26, of Russellville, Ala., was arrested for allegedly breaking into a home and attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl. New information obtained by police later led to two additional rape charges.
He was held at the Franklin County Detention Center on $350,000 bail.
Re-blogged from The Blaze
9 Violent Criminals Who Paid Less for Bail Than ’2016′ Filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza
Jason Howerton
Sat, 25 Jan 2014 13:00:25 GMT
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