Thursday, July 11, 2002
The defendant will meet with a pretrial services officer twice a week and be closely monitored.
CLEVELAND -- U.S. District Judge Lesley Brooks Wells has decided the Virginia engineer accused of bribing U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. needs to be closely monitored until trial begins in November.
In an order filed Wednesday, the judge modified Richard E. Detore's $50,000 unsecured bond conditions. He is now required to check in at least twice each week, in person, with Kimberly Walker, his pretrial services officer in Virginia.
Detore, 42, of Clifton, Va., failed to show Tuesday for a final pretrial, telling Walker that he had blacked out the day before and had an appointment that that day with a neurologist. He declined to provide specific information regarding his appointment, the judge said in court papers.
No support for claims
He later faxed the pretrial services officer a note handwritten on a prescription pad that said: "Please excuse Richard Detore from work until further notice secondary to medical reasons." In what appears to be different handwriting are the words "No travel," Judge Wells said in her order.
Judge Wells said he failed to supply any substantive support for his alleged medical condition. "Therefore, the conditions of Mr. Detore's bond are modified in order to provide clarity to the situation," she said.
She ordered Detore to contact Walker by Friday and establish a schedule to meet in person at least twice a week.
The judge reset Detore's July 29 trial to Nov. 12 and told him to let her know by Aug. 10 if he has found a lawyer or intends to represent himself at trial.
Traficant, of Poland, D-17th, was found guilty of racketeering, bribery and tax evasion and will be sentenced July 30.