By Bob Condotta | The Seattle Times
SEATTLE — Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar will be released from Broward County, Fla., jail on $100,000 bond following a hearing Sunday morning in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
The state of Florida asked at the bail hearing for a no-bond hold for Dunbar, who surrendered Saturday on four felony counts of armed robbery related to an incident in Miramar, Fla., on Wednesday.
But Broward Circuit Judge Michael Davis levied a $25,000 bond on each count. Dunbar’s attorney, Michael Grieco, said Dunbar would be released Sunday.
No date has been set for a next hearing.
Davis also ordered that Dunbar give up all firearms, if he has any, and also ruled that during the pretrial process he cannot travel out of state, though that could be modified later. The judge also ordered that there be no contact with any victims.
New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker, who is facing four counts of armed robbery as well as four counts of aggravated assault in the same incident, received a similar $25,000 bond per count, for $200,000 total.
Grieco introduced five affidavits from what he said are the four victims mentioned in the arrest warrants and an independent witness that he said are “completely recanting what they said to the police back on Wednesday.”
He further argued that “we have no recovery of firearms, we have no video, we have no audio. We have no independent witnesses other than these five witnesses.”
Broward County assistant state attorney Aaron Passy called the affidavits “suspect” and argued that they should not have been admissible in a bond hearing, saying “let’s say the witnesses were receiving death threats or offers or bribes” and that he found it “very interesting” that the affidavits “recant only to one defendant.” Passy said the state had not received any different testimony from victims or witnesses.
Grieco argued that the statements “were filled out and signed off on in my presence, in the presence of my investigator, in the presence of a notary. This was not in some back alley. This was in my office.”
He noted that there is “no physical evidence, no corroborating evidence,” backing up the state’s case other than the witness statements, arguing that there was no basis “to hold somebody on bond on a bogus case.”
Dunbar and Baker and a third man, who the state said Sunday has yet to be identified, are alleged to have taken more than $12,000 in cash and $61,000 in jewelry/watches at what the state said was an illegal dice game at a party at a house featuring 15-20 people.
Only one witness in the police report said he thought Dunbar had a gun, which is why he did not receive the counts of aggravated assault as did Baker.
One of the witnesses said Baker and Dunbar had lost $70,000 gambling two days prior. Passy noted in his argument Sunday that three cars parked outside were parked in a manner to suggest they were getaway cars, and the arrest warrant stated that at least one witness said they thought the incident had been planned.
Baker also received an order to give up any firearms he may have as well as for now not being able to travel outside Florida.
Dunbar was acquired by the Seahawks in a trade with Washington in March for a fifth-round draft pick. Dunbar has been expected to compete for Seattle’s starting right-cornerback spot that last year was held by Tre Flowers.
The Seahawks have made no comment other than Thursday, shortly after news of the warrants for arrest was revealed, stating they are “still gathering information” and “will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities.”
Dunbar has one year remaining on his contract, due to make $3.25 million in 2020.
