Judge Won’t Lower $5-Million Bail for Charles Keating

A Los Angeles judge Friday refused to reduce the $5-million bail for Charles H. Keating Jr., saying the Phoenix businessman is a flight risk after being indicted on 42 counts of state securities fraud and other violations.

Superior Court Judge Gary Klausner said Keating--pursued by creditors, regulators and prosecutors for his role in the failure of Irvine-based Lincoln Savings & Loan--has “significant reasons not to stay around.”

The ruling means that the 66-year-old Keating--a once-wealthy real estate developer, lawyer and influential political campaign contributor used to pin-striped suits--will spend more time in blue prison fatigues inside Los Angeles County Jail.

At the same time, Klausner reduced bail for three Keating co-defendants from the $1 million he imposed Tuesday when the indictment was unsealed against the former operators of American Continental Corp. and its former main subsidiary, Lincoln.

Bail for Judy J. Wischer, 42, former American Continental president, was lowered to $200,000. Bail for Robin S. Symes, 37, and Ray C. Fidel, 32, both former Lincoln presidents, was cut to $100,000. Wischer posted bail Friday and was expected to be released during the night.

The four are charged with wrongdoing in the sale of more than $200 million in American Continental bonds to thousands of mostly elderly Southern California investors. The bonds were sold through Lincoln branches, allegedly as safe and insured investments.

The bonds became worthless when American Continental filed for bankruptcy in April, 1989. The next day Lincoln was declared insolvent and seized by federal regulators. The failure is expected to cost taxpayers $2 billion.

Stephen C. Neal, Keating’s attorney, indicated that he would appeal Klausner’s ruling. Keating will not flee and intends to fight to clear his name, Neal said. But the decision denies Keating access to his attorneys and to records so he can mount a defense effectively, the lawyer said.

“We think (the decision) is unsupportable on the evidence that was introduced this week,” Neal said.

Keating had sought to have bail reduced to $500,000, an amount that could be paid by his family, Neal said.

Neal argued that Keating, who three years ago had a net worth of nearly $40 million, is broke. Keating’s former accountant testified that his debts exceed his assets by $5.2 million.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, whose office has flip-flopped twice in its bail recommendations in the case, praised the decision not to reduce Keating’s bail.

“Mr. Keating is accused of cheating people out of their savings,” Reiner said in a press conference after the hearing. “For many of them, it was their life savings. And whether somebody wears an expensive suit or a cheap mask, stealing is stealing and both of them ought to be treated the same.”

The judge’s decision came after 1 1/2 days of testimony and arguments in the first criminal case to be filed in connection with the collapses of Lincoln and Phoenix-based American Continental.

Keating, unshaven and looking tired, sat impassively in the prisoners’ block as the judge announced his decision. His co-defendants also showed little emotion as they were whisked away by court deputies after the hearing.

Afterwards, Donald Smaltz, attorney for Symes, criticized Reiner and Klausner for their handling of the bail hearing.

“The most talked-about event in the last several weeks has been the Iraqi invasion,” Smaltz said. “The sole thing that replaced Saddam Hussein on the front page was Charles Keating, and Reiner’s milking that for all it’s worth.”

He also struck out at the judge, saying, “He’s never going to get arrested for flashing his Phi Beta Kappa key. Bail is supposed to assure a defendant’s appearance in court and must be within the means he could reasonably afford.”

Klausner also said he was “troubled” by the way the district attorney has equivocated on the bail issue.

On Tuesday, when the indictments were unsealed, prosecutors did not object to releasing all the defendants on their own recognizance. On Wednesday, prosecutors said they were willing to recommend a reduction in bail to $1 million for Keating and $50,000 for the others. Friday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul W. Turley argued against reducing the bail at all.

Klausner said that of all the factors to be weighed in determining a proper bail, the seriousness of the alleged crimes and the risk of a defendant fleeing were the most important in this case.

Throughout the hearing, defense attorneys brought witnesses and other evidence to court to show that their clients were destitute or nearly so. They argued that the defendants would return to court for trial to fight for their vindication, as they had stayed to fight the massive civil litigation filed against them.