Opinion ID: 420760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ORDER On Motion For Clarification

Text: 32 On May 17, 1983, this court granted appellants' motion for reduction of bail and granted bail under specific conditions, subject to the supervision and approval of the district court. Appellant Anthony J. Leisure was ordered to be released upon bail in the amount of $500,000, of which $200,000 is to be secured by a 10% cash deposit, $200,000 is to be secured by real estate owned by appellant located in Jefferson County, Missouri, and $100,000 is to be secured by a corporate surety or 10% cash deposit or other real property owned by appellant or his relatives or any combination thereof. 33 Proceedings about the satisfaction of the bond requirements had been referred to the magistrate by the district court. On May 25, 1983, appellant, through counsel, submitted to the magistrate various documents pertaining to the real property located in Jefferson County. These documents included the general warranty deed, paid tax bills, and information concerning the balance due on the deed of trust. The government filed a motion for surety, arguing that this court's May 17, 1983 opinion required appellant Anthony J. Leisure to have equity in the amount of $200,000 in the Jefferson County property in order to qualify as surety for that part of the bond and that the government did not believe that the Jefferson County property was worth $200,000 or that appellant Anthony J. Leisure possessed an equity interest of $200,000 in the property. The magistrate granted the government's motion for surety and the district court adopted the order of the magistrate. 34 Appellant Anthony J. Leisure immediately filed this motion seeking clarification of the real estate requirement in this court's May 17 order. Appellant Anthony J. Leisure argues that the government erroneously interpreted the real estate requirement. Appellant admits that the Jefferson County property may not be worth $200,000, that the property is subject to a deed of trust, and that his equity interest in the property is less than $200,000. 35 Following consideration of appellant's motion and the government's response in opposition, we modify the real estate provision in the conditions of appellant's bond by adding the following: 36 If the real estate in Jefferson County, Missouri, is owned wholly by appellant, the $200,000 part of the bond required to be secured by such property may be satisfied by the pledge of appellant of his equity interest in such property, even though his equity interest may be less than $200,000, with the balance ($200,000 less appellant's equity) to be secured by corporate surety. 37 The order of the district court granting the government's motion for surety and requiring appellant to pledge an equity interest in the amount of $200,000 to secure bail is vacated. The motion for clarification is granted and this court's opinion of May 17, 1983 granting reduction of bail is modified as set forth above. 38 The court on its own motion orders that the last four lines on page six of the opinion filed May 17, 1983, be deleted and replaced by the following: 39 Here, the magistrate set the amount of bail at $1 million cash and $2 million cash. The magistrate stated: 40 The Court believes that were the defendants released, there is substantial likelihood that retribution would be attempted against witnesses against them. The pendency of capital offenses in the Missouri state court is another factor creating a substantial incentive on the part of the defendants to flee. 41 It is the opinion of the [court] that, with regard to all above-named defendants, there exists an extreme likelihood of flight. 42 We conclude the district court abused its discretion in refusing to reduce the appellants' bail. All of the evidence adduced before the magistrate indicated that appellants would appear at their trial. We do not think the very substantial cash bonds represent a reasonable calculation of the conditions necessary to assure the appellants' appearance at trial. 7 43