Salvatore granted bond

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The bond, which must be 100 percent cash or property value, was first set at $350,000 by the Calvert County District Court, so by law Clagett was required to follow the district’s court’s bond. The circuit court can lower a bond, but it cannot raise a bond from the district court.

Salvatore was indicted on June 16 for the murder of his brother Robert Chris Salvatore, who was shot and killed at his residence in Port Republic on June 1.

Assistant State’s Attorney Francis Longwell said a new charge of the use of a gun with a magazine was added in the indictment by the circuit court, but Clagett decided that since the new charge does not carry a no bond order, a bond must be granted.

Two neighbors, who told Longwell that they were worried about their safety because of Salvatore’s admitted PCP use and weapons knowledge, were present at the hearing.

A first-degree murder charge can be a no bond charge, but since the district court set a bond and the state did not have any new evidence, the original district court bond had to be upheld, Longwell said.

A motion to suppress evidence was not addressed at the hearing, and a date has not yet been set for the motion hearing.

Salvatore’s pretrial is scheduled for Sept. 9 and a criminal jury trial is set for Dec. 9.