MONROE - After standing mute to charges against him, not guilty pleas were entered in Green County Circuit Court on behalf of Luis E. Cruz, one of three suspects in the apparent robbery of a small grocery store in Monroe April 5.
Cruz, 30, appeared in court with his attorney, Ronald G. Benavides, on Tuesday, along with Luis E. Western, the second suspect charged in the incident. Western, 35, was in court with his attorney, Frank Medina, for a status conference.
Benavides filed a petition to reduce his client's bond, as well as electronic monitoring for his client at Cruz's residence in Beloit. His reason was that his client has medical issues.
Since his arrest, Cruz had visited the emergency room for an apparent heart conduction.
"He complained about chest pain," Benavides said during court.
District Attorney Gary Luhman opposed, stating that the medical condition has not worsened.
"These medical conditions have more or less resolved," Luhman said.
Reduced bond along with electronic monitoring were denied after Judge Thomas Vale asked Benavides if he or his client received a letter from a doctor recommending Cruz be removed from jail.
"(There is) no indication that he should be removed," Benavides said.
Luhman asked the court to allow testing of buccal cells for each defendant.
This specific testing would swab the inside of each defendant's mouth and test it against DNA found at the grocery store, Luhman said.
Status conferences for both men to review DNA evidence are scheduled. Cruz's status conference is May 23, while Western's status conference is May 31.
Charges against Cruz includes substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; theft of moveable property, a Class I felony; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Charges against Western include substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Testimony from the April 28 preliminary hearing for both men said that the two were at the grocery store on April 5 to collect a drug payment, and not to rob the owner.
The third suspect in the case was killed in a crash during a police pursuit near Juda.
Cruz, 30, appeared in court with his attorney, Ronald G. Benavides, on Tuesday, along with Luis E. Western, the second suspect charged in the incident. Western, 35, was in court with his attorney, Frank Medina, for a status conference.
Benavides filed a petition to reduce his client's bond, as well as electronic monitoring for his client at Cruz's residence in Beloit. His reason was that his client has medical issues.
Since his arrest, Cruz had visited the emergency room for an apparent heart conduction.
"He complained about chest pain," Benavides said during court.
District Attorney Gary Luhman opposed, stating that the medical condition has not worsened.
"These medical conditions have more or less resolved," Luhman said.
Reduced bond along with electronic monitoring were denied after Judge Thomas Vale asked Benavides if he or his client received a letter from a doctor recommending Cruz be removed from jail.
"(There is) no indication that he should be removed," Benavides said.
Luhman asked the court to allow testing of buccal cells for each defendant.
This specific testing would swab the inside of each defendant's mouth and test it against DNA found at the grocery store, Luhman said.
Status conferences for both men to review DNA evidence are scheduled. Cruz's status conference is May 23, while Western's status conference is May 31.
Charges against Cruz includes substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; theft of moveable property, a Class I felony; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Charges against Western include substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, a Class I Felony; two counts of armed battery, both Class C felonies; and false imprisonment, a Class H felony.
Testimony from the April 28 preliminary hearing for both men said that the two were at the grocery store on April 5 to collect a drug payment, and not to rob the owner.
The third suspect in the case was killed in a crash during a police pursuit near Juda.