Mavrick Fisher pleads not guilty to murder

[Transcript] [Video of Mavrick Fisher, in a jail jumpsuit, wearing handcuffs, walking into the courtroom and taking a seat at a table to the right.)

Alex: Today Mavrick Fisher appeared before the Lake County Courthouse and pleaded not guilty and denied his murder charge.

Interpreter (for Mavrick’s attorney): So now, Mr. Fisher pleads not guilty. He denies all the charges.

Alex: There was a big screen that blocked the view of Mavrick and the public defender.

[Video of Mavrick looking behind him as a bailiff pulls a large thick screen, which obstructs the camera’s view of him].

There were arguments for bail. Before there was a “no bail” set, but after arguments that said Mavrick has no criminal history, the judge decided on a $1 million bail.

IInterpreter (for District Attorney/Prosecutor): I’m really concerned about public safety, because he did flee to Mexico. I feel he could flee again, and it would put the community in danger. I’m asking for no bail.

Interpreter (for Mavrick’s attorney): He wants to let you know that he was planning to come here. He tried to contact the Lake County Police at the beginning, he was stressed. First of all, he never had this happen to him before. No history of anything, he did not break the law or was accused of trying to hurt people. Nothing. I feel that when you say he is a public threat, there is no sense for that, no foundation for that.

Interpreter (for Judge J. David Markham): I’ve heard both sides. I feel there is no facts for me to set “no bail.” I feel that we need to set a bail and I will set a bail. He was arrested in Mexico. He fled the U.S. and tried to avoid police. So I feel that you could flee again. And it seems like there is no other way to make sure it’s safe for the community or to people so I will post bail at $1 million dollars. One million dollars bail.

Alex: This means if Mavrick’s family and advocates wants him to get out of jail while they await for future court dates, they will have to come up with a $100,000 for the bond. I just talked with Mavrick’s mother, Michelina, and they said they are going to set up a GoFundMe or some other way to come up with $100,000 to let Mavrick out of jail while awaiting trial. That’s their plan now.

There were two communication advocates from the DCARA office in Santa Rosa. They observed the interpreting process. They said there were some issues and would provide feedback to the court. They said the big screen that blocked the view is normal as to allow the attorney and Mavrick to have private discussions.

Last night I met with two people who support Mavrick and are members of his family, Emily Renault, who is the mother of Mavrick’s baby — they had a relationship in the past and are still in contact with each other — and the second person is Michelina, who is the mother of Mavrick. Both of them want to share remarks with you.

Emily Renault: I was heartbroken when I found out because he is my son’s father. He needs his father the most. I’m a mother, yes, but I know my son needs a father, too. I’m grieving as well because I feel bad for Grant’s family. I do feel grief because it is unfortunate, it is not fun or “funny news,” you know.

Michelina Martin-Fisher: I am very heartbroken. I feel so bad. I feel so bad. I’m just going to let the police, detectives, and the lawyer to do their jobs, to collect all the information. I want my son Mavrick to come back home as soon as possible.

Alex: Now, what is next? The public hearing on October 23. Based on my previous research, what will happen is that the prosecutor (the D.A.) and Mavrick’s defense attorney will provide arguments to the judge, in which the judge will listen and make a decision on if they are going to go to trial. He will decide that. If he decides to go to trial, it is not clear how long it will take before it happens. For now, October 23 is the next event.

Text statement from Tom Feimer, Defense Attorney:

“Mr. Fisher was initially being held without bail. He has a Constitutional right to bail. More importantly, he is also innocent until proven guilty. So any time he spends in jail now is a deprivation of his liberty without a conviction. So obviously I feel the Court made the correct decision in setting bail.

In the time between now and the preliminary hearing I will be reviewing the Prosecution's evidence as thoroughly as possible, meeting with Mr. Fisher to review the evidence, and beginning our own investigation into the charges and the facts and circumstances of this case.”

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