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E-mail StoryJudge won't lower bail for Taft teacher accused in suffocation death
| Wednesday, Jun 11 2008 10:46 AM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Jun 11 2008 4:52 PM
A Kern County judge denied a request Wednesday to reduce bail for a Taft College teacher accused of tying up a woman who later died from suffocation. Judge Michael Bush denied the motion to reduce bail for James Arthur Wyatt from $1 million to $100,000.
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James Arthur Wyatt, arraigned at the Kern Superior Court on charges of second degree murder for the killing of Lora Louise Shine.
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Wyatt’s attorney, Michael Dellostritto, argued that the April 17 death of Wyatt’s longtime girlfriend, Lora Louise Shine, was obviously unintentional, that his client attempted to call for medical assistance and that Wyatt is a stable and longtime resident of Kern County.
Prosecutor David Wilson opposed the motion, noting that Wyatt and his co-defendant, Justin Mark Ennis, offered differing versions about what happened that day.
Wyatt, 60, and Ennis, 21, have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Shine’s death.
The 44-year-old victim was bound with plastic ties in an upstairs bedroom in Wyatt’s Trojes Avenue home, according to police. Duct tape was apparently placed over her mouth.
Wyatt sat quietly during Wednesday’s hearing dressed in a brown jail smock, his right arm supported by a cloth sling. He showed little reaction to Bush’s decision.
Wyatt’s next hearing is scheduled for June 17.