District Court Judge Jackie Glass denied Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan bail today (April 18) indicating there was a “significant risk of flight” in making her decision.
It came following a brief hearing in which the defense argued the state had not met the standard of “proof is evident or the presumption great” that allows for bail to be denied. The defense argued that because the District Attorney has multiple causes of death, doesn’t have a clear murder weapon, and that the coroner “could not determine a cause of death,” Titus and Ryan should be allowed bail. Titus’ defense attorney, Richard Schonfeld, asked for a $250,000 bail, while Ryan’s defense attorney, Thomas Pitaro, sought a $25,000 bail.
The state indicated the defendants had fled Las Vegas for Boston and that a murder had been committed. In addition, the District Attorney offered photographic evidence alleging that the defendants planned to commit the murder of Melissa James.
The State cited NRS 178.444(1) that states “a person arrested for an offense other than murder of the first degree must be admitted to bail.” The State argued that since both defendants have been charged with First Degree Murder, and because in this case, “the proof is evident and the evidence great,” both defendants were not eligible for bail under Nevada law.
Documents:
