Monday, September 14, 2009

$30M bail set for Calif. kidnap suspect

— A judge has set bail at $30 million for a Northern California man accused of kidnapping a girl and holding her captive for 18 years.

Phillip Garrido has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment charges and has been held without bail in an El Dorado County jail.

Garrido and his wife, Nancy, are accused of kidnapping 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard from her home in 1991, then raping her and holding her captive in a backyard jumble of tents and sheds for nearly two decades. Authorities say Phillip Garrido fathered two daughters with Dugard.

El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Douglas Phimister set the high amount Monday, citing the serious nature of the charges, injuries to the victim and the fact that Garrido was on parole at the time of the alleged crime.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A couple accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl and holding her captive for 18 years is expected to return to a Northern California courtroom.

Phillip and Nancy Garrido have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment charges and are being held without bail in an El Dorado County jail. Prosecutors filed motions to increase their bail and will argue their case Monday.

The Garridos are accused of kidnapping Jaycee Dugard from her South Lake Tahoe home in 1991, then raping her and holding her captive in a backyard jumble of tents and sheds for nearly two decades. Authorities say Phillip Garrido fathered two daughters with Dugard.

The district attorney's office says the two are a clear danger to the public, particularly to children.

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