Bail Reduction to Focus on Williams’ Missed Hearings : Denny trial: DMV records to be cited by prosecutors show five absences at court dates.

In opposing a request for reduced bail for Damian Monroe Williams--who was convicted of a felony and four misdemeanors in the Reginald O. Denny beating case--the prosecution on Tuesday will cite Williams’ record of failing to appear in traffic court.

Department of Motor Vehicles records released Friday along with written arguments against the bail reduction show that Williams was not in court to answer traffic tickets on five occasions as far back as 1990.

The 11 citations listed include such things as failure to have vehicle registration papers and reckless driving. Three of the citations were issued five days before Williams was arrested in the beating of trucker Denny and other motorists at Florence and Normandie avenues at the start of the Los Angeles riots. He has been in custody ever since.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Morrison noted in his arguments that the likelihood of a defendant appearing for a future court date is something that a judge must take into account when considering bail.

Superior Court Judge John W. Ouderkirk is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the matter Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Williams, 20, was acquitted of the most serious counts against him stemming from the riot beatings, but he was convicted of several lesser counts.

His lawyer has petitioned Ouderkirk to lower Williams’ $580,000 bail so that Williams can be freed pending his Dec. 7 sentencing, when he will face a maximum 10-year sentence.