Irina Walker, 60, known in Romania as Princess Irina, and husband John Walker, 67, pleaded not guilty to all charges against them in U.S. District Court in Portland.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen F. Peifer argued against the release, saying the couple might flee, seeking asylum in Switzerland or Romania.
But U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta decided to allow John and Irina Walker to be freed, ordering that they wear GPS bracelets and remain in Morrow and Umatilla counties while awaiting a two-week jury trial, which has been set for Oct. 15. The couple must also turn over their U.S. passports.
The Walkers, with 16 other suspects in Oregon and at least 10 in Washington, face charges under the federal Animal Welfare Act for their alleged participation in what U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall called the "barbaric practice" of cockfighting.
Princess Irina, known for her childhood love of animals, was born in Switzerland as the third of five daughters of King Michael I and Queen Anne of Romania. The royal family left Romania in 1947, forced to abdicate as the nation became part of the Soviet bloc.
The king supported the family working various jobs in Switzerland and the United Kingdom that included running a chicken farm.
Peifer, the federal prosecutor, said investigators found 24 large marijuana plants and 24 firearms at the Walkers' home. John Walker has a medical marijuana card, Peifer said.
Five co-defendants also appeared in court. Aurelia Garcia Mendoza, Mario Perez, David Sanchez, Apolinar Munoz Gutierrez and Arturo Olmedo Silva pled not guilty to similar charges and were scheduled for trial Oct. 15.
Eleven other people charged in the case are to appear before a magistrate in Yakima, Wash.
(The Oregonian - Aug 16 2013)
Earlier:
No comments:
Post a Comment