Local News in Brief : Suspect’s Bail Reduced in Racial Crime Case

A San Fernando Municipal Court judge on Thursday reduced bail for the purported leader of a neo-Nazi youth gang charged with attempted residential burglary and using unlawful, violent acts to bring about political change.

Michael Casey Martin, 18, of Chatsworth, believed by police to be the leader of the “Reich Skins,” will probably remain in Men’s Central Jail because his family cannot afford to post the reduced bail, Deputy Public Defender Martin H. Wegman said.

Judge Paul I. Metzler set bail Thursday at $35,000. Martin’s bail was originally set at $100,000 after his Oct. 23 arrest.

Metzler said he rejected Wegman’s request to reduce the bail to $17,000 in order to ensure the safety of the community.

“It appears this case is gang-related, and if you take the leader away in cases like this, you tend to have fewer problems,” Metzler said. “If you put him back on the street, you have more.”

Martin is charged with attempting on Oct. 7 to break into a Granada Hills home occupied by a Latino family. The criminal complaint against Martin alleges that he carried a gun and yelled “white power,” “down with blacks” and “down with Mexicans” during the attempted break-in.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled in San Fernando Municipal Court Wednesday.