Superior Court Judge Ronald Culpepper rejected a request from Barry Ford to travel to Georgia to help deliver a group of Army Stryker vehicles from Fort Lewis to Fort Benning.

Ford and three other men are charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault in connection with an April 5 bar fight that left 38-year-old Dana Beaudine dead.

Ford pleaded not guilty and posted $250,000 bail April 11 to gain release from jail until his trial.

Ford works as a technician for General Dynamics Land Systems, which builds Strykers. The company wants Ford, who has special training and experience outfitting the vehicles, to travel east April 28 for a 15-day stay to oversee the delivery.

His attorney, Jay Berneburg, asked Culpepper to let his client make the trip.

Berneburg argued that his client has strong ties to the Tacoma area and would be no risk to abscond if he were allowed to travel to Georgia.

Deputy prosecutor Sunni Ko argu- ed that the state is “adamantly oppo- sed” to Ford leaving Pierce, King, Thurston or Kitsap counties, as his original bail conditions required.

“I understand that having a murder charge is inconvenient to people’s lives,” Ko told Culpepper during a Friday hearing. “It should be.”

Culpepper agreed.

“This isn’t an unlawful possession of a controlled substance charge. This is a charge of murdering someone with a knife,” Culpepper said. “I’m denying the request.”

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644

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