Bail set at $1.7 million for home invasion suspects

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004 | 10:22 a.m.

A judge on Wednesday set bail at $1.7 million each for two men charged in a home invasion robbery that culminated in a deadly shootout with police.

District Judge Michael Douglas set the bail for Dewan Blackburn, 24, and Bruce Joe Bolden, 23, after a Clark County grand jury indicted the pair on 17 felony counts each.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Barker had argued that a bail of $100,000 on each count was necessary for the men, who are charged with forcing their way into a home and tying up an elderly couple and their daughter.

"That's a high bail, but I think it's warranted," Douglas said.

Blackburn's attorney, Jonathan MacArthur, said the high bail, "clearly reflects the gravity of the named charges rather than the factual circumstances from which they were incurred," he said.

MacArthur said he also was disappointed that the state took the case to the grand jury, instead going forward with a preliminary hearing.

"You can indict a ham sandwich," he said. "The grand jury system was once a useful constitutional protection from reckless prosecution. Nowadays, it's just a shortcut through which the state can avoid clearing the hurdle of probable cause."

Bolden's attorney, Kirk Kennedy, said the high bail was not surprising because of the serious charges. He said he could argue for a bail reduction when the case reaches court.

Blackburn and Bolden, both of Las Vegas, will be arraigned on Feb. 25 before District Judge Lee Gates on charges including murder, burglary and multiple counts of first-degree kidnapping, all with a deadly weapon.

A third man, Keith Maurice Williams, 24, was shot and killed by police in a shootout that ensued when the men were apprehended. A coroner's inquest to determine whether the killing was justified is scheduled for Friday.

The murder charge Blackburn and Bolden face is in relation to Williams' death because the killing happened during the commission of a felony.

Authorities say the men forced their way into a home near North Durango Drive north of Craig Road on Jan. 17 about 10:30 p.m. and held the homeowners at gunpoint.

"They pistol-whipped and tied up an older couple and started going through the home," Barker said.

The couple's 21-year-old daughter became suspicious when she noticed an unfamiliar car parked in front of the house. When she went inside, she also was tied up, Barker said.

After freeing themselves, the victims were able to call police and give descriptions of the men.

The men had engaged police in a high-speed chase when Williams allegedly got out of his car and aimed a gun at an officer. The officer shot him.

When police searched the suspects' vehicle, they found various items from the elderly couple's home, including a computer, television and cell phone.

"There were also other items from a home invasion robbery that occurred four days earlier," Barker said. It was unclear whether the men would face charges in that robbery.