Leo v. Commonwealth

Leo was indicted on several charges of aggravated rape, breaking and entering, and larceny. At his arraignment, a judge in the Superior Court set bail in the amount of $5,000,000, with surety, or $500,000 cash, without prejudice. See G. L. c. 276, § 57. The following month, a hearing was held before a second judge on Leo’s request to reduce his bail to $200,000, with surety, or $20,000 cash. The judge refused to reduce the bail on the sole basis that Leo posed a suicide risk, and thus presented a flight risk. Several months later, Leo again sought a reduction in his bail in the Superior…