By Alan Sorensen
Jacob Gary Spang, accused of homicide in the double murder of two Havre residents in September, could be free on bail soon, according to court records of a hearing held Thursday.
At the conclusion of the 3 hour hearing in which a handful of people testified, 12th Judicial District Court Judge John Warner reportedly set Spang's bail at $25,000.
Spang, 18, his 16-year-old sister Francine, and Reid Danell, 18, are charged with two counts of deliberate homicide by application of the felony murder rule, two counts of intimidation by accountability, one count of tampering with evidence, and car theft.
Kristi Walker, 30, and Kevin Caplette, 35, were found shot to death at a home in the 1200 block of Sixth Street shortly before 1 p.m. on Sept. 16. Danell is accused of pulling the trigger on both victims.
An order to release Francine Spang on her own recognizance was dated and filed in Hill County Clerk of Court's Office Thursday morning. She was ordered to live with relatives in Rosebud County until her court dates.
Warner set several conditions on Spang should his family and friends be able to come up with the money to spring him from his Hill County jail cell. His release would be contingent on his cousin Andre LaFrance taking Spang into his home in Big Horn County.
Should LaFrance let Spang move in, Spang would have to comply with an 11-hour curfew. He would be required to be in LaFrance's home from 7 p.m. each night to 6 a.m. the next morning. Spang also would have to submit to electronic monitoring at his own expense and have no contact with the relatives of his co-defendants except when accompanied by LaFrance or LaFrance's wife. He would be required to refrain from the use of alcohol and drugs and maintain contact with his lawyer by telephone.
As an added condition of his release, Spang would be forbidden from returning to Hill County except for his court proceedings. He must also remain law-abiding.
Judge Warner also heard arguments on a motion to suppress evidence in Spang's trial. The evidence that defense attorneys want suppressed is Spang's interview with police in Great Falls after his arrest at a Great Falls motel the day after the bodies were found.
Warner said he has taken the motion under advisement and would rule on it later.
Danell is scheduled to go on trial May 22.
Spang's trial is set for June 5 and Francine Spang is scheduled for trial on June 19.
