Skeeter Manos posted bail Monday and was released from jail, three days before the former Lakewood police officer is set to begin serving 33 months in prison for stealing money from the families of four slain comrades.
During a hearing Monday, attorney Gary Clower did not ask to lower Manos’ $100,000 bail, but did request that he be allowed to pay the 10 percent fee – $10,000 – to the court in cash rather than to a bail bondsman.
That would allow Manos’ family to recover the money if he doesn’t jump bail, rather than paying the nonreturnable $10,000 fee to a bondsman.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Phil Sorensen objected because of the “underlying nature of the crimes.”
Commissioner Meagan Foley agreed to let Manos pay the court $10,000 in cash for his release and ordered him to report to the Pierce County Jail on Wednesday.
Manos, 35, was convicted earlier this year of stealing $112,000 in public donations intended for the families of Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards. The four were gunned down Nov. 29, 2009, at a Parkland coffee shop.
He also confessed to embezzling $47,000 from the Lakewood Police Independent Guild, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, in an elaborate scheme in which he forged an audit to cover up the theft.
Last week, Manos was arrested and charged with second-degree identity theft and forgery for allegedly stealing a Tacoma accountant’s identity to forge the audit. He pleaded not guilty.
Clower argued Monday that the fruits of Manos’ crime could not be considered during a bail hearing for the new charges, and said federal prosecutors probably were aware of where the stolen money was.
“If there was money to recapture, it would have happened,” he said.
The attorney said Manos wants to spend the next few days with his wife and three children before going to prison Thursday.
stacia.glenn@thenewstribune.com
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