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Casino robbery suspect Gray arraigned

Merrill Gray, the man the Havre Police Department and the county attorney suspect is the masked Magic Diamond robber, appeared in the district courtroom Monday at 3 p. m. for an arraignment and bail reduction hearing.

Judge David Rice read aloud the charges being filed against Gray, felony armed robbery and misdemeanor theft, and Gray pleaded not guilty to each in turn.

The bail reduction listed on the docket was irrelevant, since Gray had posted a paper bond, a nonrefundable 10 percent of his $20,000 bond, and was released from the Hill County Detention Center over the weekend.

Gray's defense attorney requested that Gray be allowed to travel on bond, to Fort Belknap for a custody hearing for his child there, and subsequent visitations.

Rice said Gray will be allowed to travel within Hill and Blaine counties while out on bond.

The attorneys and the judge set the omnibus hearing for 3 p. m. Jan. 3, for motions to be heard for the date and conditions of the trial.

Gray was arrested on Nov. 4 for the robbery of the Magic Diamond Casino on 1st Street, when a man wearing a plastic mask and wielding a long kitchen knife took an apron of cash from a casino employee and fled, after a patron called the police.

The county attorney filed a motion requesting Gray be charged with the crimes, an 11-page account of events, evidence and witness statements that seem to implicate Gray.

The misdemeanor theft charge could result in up to six months in prison and a fine of less than $1,000.

The felony armed robbery charge could result in between two and 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Havre Daily News/Zach White

Merrill Gray, front, sits with his defense attorney, Randy Randolph, and Hill County Attorney Gina Dahl during his arraignment hearing at District Court at 3 p. m. Monday. Gray pleaded not guilty to felony armed robbery and misdemeanor theft.

Merrill Gray, the man the Havre Police Department and the county attorney suspect is the masked Magic Diamond robber, appeared in the district courtroom Monday at 3 p. m. for an arraignment and bail reduction hearing.

Judge David Rice read aloud the charges being filed against Gray, felony armed robbery and misdemeanor theft, and Gray pleaded not guilty to each in turn.

The bail reduction listed on the docket was irrelevant, since Gray had posted a paper bond, a nonrefundable 10 percent of his $20,000 bond, and was released from the Hill County Detention Center over the weekend.

Gray's defense attorney requested that Gray be allowed to travel on bond, to Fort Belknap for a custody hearing for his child there, and subsequent visitations.

Rice said Gray will be allowed to travel within Hill and Blaine counties while out on bond.

The attorneys and the judge set the omnibus hearing for 3 p. m. Jan. 3, for motions to be heard for the date and conditions of the trial.

Gray was arrested on Nov. 4 for the robbery of the Magic Diamond Casino on 1st Street, when a man wearing a plastic mask and wielding a long kitchen knife took an apron of cash from a casino employee and fled, after a patron called the police.

The county attorney filed a motion requesting Gray be charged with the crimes, an 11-page account of events, evidence and witness statements that seem to implicate Gray.

The misdemeanor theft charge could result in up to six months in prison and a fine of less than $1,000.

The felony armed robbery charge could result in between two and 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

 

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