Appellant Christie was president of the Ventura County Chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, and was charged, along with other members of the Club, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The trial court set Christies bail at ten times the amount specified in the bail schedule, but did not state specific grounds for its decision. The court stated a general belief that appellant posed a threat to minors in the community. Christie petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus. Here, the appellate court returned the matter to the trial court for the trial court to clearly state the facts upon which its decision was based. The trial courts conclusory statements did not reveal what the trial court considered in predicting the danger to the community if Christie were released, and therefore the appellate court could not determine if there had been an abuse of discretion.
Case Summaries