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CARLTON — Judge Rebekka Stumme denied motions by the prosecution and defense to alter the bail in a case against a Sawyer man during a scheduling conference on Friday, July 1.
Jamin Paul Beardsley, 46, was arrested earlier this month after being sought by the Carlton County Sheriff's Office since 2021.
Beardsley is facing charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic assault stemming from two separate instances in 2019.
Nicole Ketola, an attorney for the county, argued that because of the resources that law enforcement used to try and arrest Beardsley, the bail should be raised from $100,000 to $200,000.
"He is a significant flight risk and a danger to public safety," she said.
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Ketola added that the county believes the family assisted Beardsley when he was avoiding arrest.
Joanna Wiegert, Beardsley's defense attorney, opposed the claims that Beardsley received help while avoiding arrest and called the claims "gossip, speculation and guesswork."
Wiegert made a motion to lower the bail in the case as she said it being set at $100,000 was already untenable for her client.
"I am very concerned about using bail as leverage to try and hold someone in custody," she said.
Stumme denied both motions and said the bail is at the appropriate amount.
The defense also made a motion for a speedy trial for one of the two cases.
A trial date has not yet been set due to scheduling conflicts among the court and attorneys, but Stumme said she will do the best she can to honor the request.
