Marsha Gay Reynolds, a flight attendant with JetBlue and former track runner/beauty queen, has been denied bail after allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly 70 pounds of cocaine onto a plane. Reynolds is believed to have attempted to bring the cocaine on a plane in Los Angeles. According to police she had the cocaine stored in her carryon and bypassed security by going through an employee checkpoint. She was then randomly chosen for secondary screening and apparently became nervous, fleeing the scene and leaving her bag behind. Prior to being identified she boarded a flight to New York for her normally scheduled shift. She eventually turned herself in to federal agents. A New York judge granted her bail but was overruled by a California judge who ordered her to remain in custody and be returned to California to appear in court. She is scheduled to appear next month in a Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Bail Basics: Why Bail may be denied
Bail can be denied for a number of reasons. A judge may decide that the defendant is a flight risk and potentially flee before the next court appearance. Generally, a judge will take into consideration credible sources that may state why the defendant is a potential flight risk as well as information about the defendant’s ties to the community. A judge may deny bail because of the severity of the crime or the defendant’s criminal history. A judge may also not want to immediately set bail prior to a physical bail hearing where the facts of the case and defendant’s history are reviewed. Finally, a judge may believe that the defendant poses a threat to the victim or society and therefore deny bail based on safety reasons. To learn more about when bail is denied or to speak to a licensed bondsman contact Premiere Bail Bonds at 800-662-0056.