At 11:26AM on July 29, 2011 45 year old Tracey Richter-Roberts made her initial appearance in Sac County Magistrate Court this morning to ask to be release on her own recognizance. Roberts has been accused of murdering 20 year old Dustin Wehde in 2001.
Roberts appeared in a one piece orange jumpsuit and seemed to exhibit signs of nervousness manifested by a shaky voice and a request to sit during the proceeding due to her claim that she felt light-headed.
In the presence of the Sac County Attorney, Ben Smith, the Sac County Sheriff, Ken McClure, and Deputy Dan Bruscher, Sac County Judicial Magistrate Warren Bush gave to Roberts a copy of and reviewed the compliant against her. As the judge reviewed the possible punishment for a finding of guilt for murder in the first degree, namely that she could receive life in prison without the possibility of parole, unless the sentence is commuted, Roberts informed the judge that she felt light-headed and asked to sit for the remainder of the proceeding.
Roberts asked to await the arrival of her lawyer, whom she claimed was en-route. Judge Bush clarified for her that the proceeding was an initial appearance one of the purposes of which was to inform her that she had a right to a lawyer and review options should she not be able to afford one.
As the proceeding moved to the question of bail, Sac County Attorney Ben Smith asked that Roberts be asked for a one million dollar cash bond. Judge Bush seemed to dispute the need for a cash bond and was ready to set a surety bond in the amount of one million which would have allowed Roberts to bond out with one hundred thousand dollars in cash. Smith argued that Roberts was a flight risk and a danger to the community but was reluctant to present either evidence of or a professional opinion to back up either of those claims in the presence of media and requested that the proceedings be closed. Judge Warren Bush ordered the public out of the courtroom at 11:45AM.
For the next two minutes the raised voices of County Attorney Smith and the accused could be heard outside of the courtroom, but no actual words could be made out. At 11:47AM County Attorney Smith exited the courtroom abruptly. He returned at 11:48 with a brown package that barely fit underneath his arm. After Smith’s return, no more raised voices could be heard outside of the courtroom.
Judge Bush made the ruling that Roberts was to be held without bond without inviting the public back into the courtroom to witness the ruling.
Judge Bush reviewed his ruling with media only after the proceeding was complete at 12:07PM.
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