Posted By: Judy Smith
Fri Nov 10, 2:41 PM ET
A suspect in the disappearance or deaths of three business partners may have helped prosecutors and hurt his reputation even more.
ADVERTISEMENT
document.write('');
if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("");if (window.yzq_a)
{
yzq_a('p', 'P=WPagGELaS.Y0g8xNDRVS.ALsSDRIwkVVz7gAB9mI&T=16sqvl0sf%2fX%3d1163251640%2fE%3d38062112%2fR%3dnews%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d3599924093%2fH%3dY2FjaGVoaW50PSJuZXdzIiBjb250ZW50PSJidXNpbmVzczt0cmlhbDtpdDtqdXJ5OyIgcmVmdXJsPSIiIHRvcGljcz0iIg--%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3d9AA949D1');
yzq_a('a', '&U=13at2rag8%2fN%3dISSqBkJe5tg-%2fC%3d553621.9527744.10255195.1442997%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4050096');
}
Hank Jacinto is only charged with theft and forgery, but prosecutors told a judge that his co-investor John Elwin is confirmed slain in the Philippines, and partners Douglas Ho and Arthur Young cannot be found.
"That's more than just a coincidence your honor," deputy prosecutor Chris Van Marter said.
"I feel like I am battling with ghosts here. There are just all these allegations flying around -- unfounded accusations," defense attorney Jeffrey Hawk said.
The defense attorney said Deborah Anagaran, Jacinto's friend and business associate, could supervise him on bail. They produced Jim Gage, who said he did business with Jacinto and lived.
"Are you missing?" Hawk asked Gage.
"I don't think so," Gage said.
Another Jacinto lawyer brought pictures from the Philippines of Jacinto's businesses and said he has seen an e-mail from the missing Douglas Ho, talking about traveling with a woman.
"The reference being he had a cure to having a wife or something like that," Jacinto's civil attorney Robert Miller said.
The prosecutor pointed out that a similar e-mail from John Elwin was obviously fake -- dated after his death -- and a detective said there was another e-mail that had more sinister implications.
"There was some mention that Hank had told John to leave his valuables and IDs behind in Hank's apartment," Van Marter said.
That was a day or two before Elwin was found shot in the head and back. Jacinto's lawyer said the murder theory should not prevent bail.
"Where's he going to go? The Philippines? The one place he can be prosecuted?" Hawk said.
Judge Michael Town ruled that Jacinto must stay in jail until trial, which pleased Elwin's family and friends.
After presiding over a hearing that has attracted national coverage, Town warned the lawyers not to talk so much outside court. He's afraid it will be hard to find an impartial jury when trial begins in January.
The information reported above is property of Yahoo! inc. and reprinted or modified with legitimate permission.