Attorneys want bail cut in triple fatal

Kim Smith

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

Attorneys for a Las Vegas man accused of killing three people in a hit-and-run accident are asking that his $2.2 million bail be reduced. They claim he attempted to turn himself in prior to his arrest April 25.

Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti set Mitchell Dettloff's bail after prosecutors alleged he purposely hid out from police after the April 22 accident that critically injured James Barton, 32, and took the lives of Benjamin Barton, 8, Holly Barton, 33, and Brian Cooper, 30.

Dettloff's attorneys are now pointing out that Togliatti said she had no choice but to consider Dettloff a flight risk. However, Mace Yampolsky, his attorney at the time, did not tell her that Dettloff reported to the jail two days after the accident.

According to a bail motion filed by Karen Winckler, Dettloff's new attorney, Dettloff tried to turn himself in, but jail personal told him no charges had been filed against him.

As a result, Dettloff was prepared to follow Yampolsky's advice and turn himself in during a bail hearing April 27.

Dettloff was indicted May 8 on four counts each of leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving and three counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Winckler will ask District Judge Joseph Bonaventure to release Dettloff Wednesday on house arrest with intensive supervision.