13 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - A Sacramento judge Friday afternoon denied a bail reduction for a former sheriff's deputy under investigation for murder, and prosecutors revealed for the first time that Chu Vue may have had a motive of revenge over an affair his wife had with the victim, state Correction Officer Steve Lo.
Lo, 39, was gunned down in his Sacramento garage while he was leaving for work the morning of October 15. While Vue hasn't been charged with the killing, police and prosecutors admit he's suspected of being involved.
That information of the alleged affair was revealed by prosecutors during the morning bail hearing for Vue, who was fired by Sacramento Sheriff John McGinness after he was arraigned Monday on an illegal weapons charge.
"Officer Lo and the defendant's wife worked at the same (correctional) facility, (and) they engaged in an intimate relationship, so we have a motive for the defendant to be a participant in the homicide of the correctional officer," Deputy District Attorney Robert Clancy told Sacramento Superior Court Judge Steve White.
"We have discovered evidence that the defendant, prior to the death of correctional officer Lo, had unlawfully accessed law enforcement databases to track him (Lo) down, to find out exactly where he lived and resided," said Clancy.
Vue is only charged with possessing an illegal assault rifle, with bail set at $500,000, 10 times the normal amount for that charge. While no other charges have been filed against him since his arrest last week, Deputy District Attorney Robert Clancy said Vue's status as a potential murder suspect hasn't changed.
White questioned why Clancy had not provided more information contained in a now-sealed search warrant affidavit. He delayed his decision until he could review the sealed document, then issued his decision in a written order four hours later.
White ruled the defense would have to show a change of circumstance or ask for bail reduction from Judge Gary Ransom, who authorized the original $500,000 bail.
"Defendant makes neither showing," wrote White. "As such, the motion is denied without prejudice to defendant renewing the motion before the Honorable Gary E. Ransom."
"On its very worst day, this (gun charge) is a probation case," argued one of Lo's defense attorneys, Tom Johnson. "If they want (bail) to be higher than ($50,000), let's see something." Johnson argued Vue has strong family ties to Sacramento, has lived here for 26 years, owns several pieces of property and has no prior criminal record.
Vue's other lawyer, Pa Lai Lee, told the judge Chia Vue is no longer divorcing her husband, although she filed for dissolution of marriage about one month before Lo's murder. "Mrs. Vue has filed to dismiss those divorce proceedings," Lee told the judge. Outside court, she explained Vue's wife "loves her husband and they want to work things out."
The defense wanted bail reduced to at least the standard $50,000 for the gun charge. Johnson noted that Vue knew for one week he was suspected in Lo's murder before he was taken into custody. "If Mr. Vue was going to flee, he would've done it that week," argued Johnson.
The judge said he was leaning toward reducing the bail based on what the defense has argued. "There may be other issues but they're not before me," White said. At the time the sealed warrant affidavit wasn't available in the court file.
During the hearing, Clancy also hinted his office may file a more serious charge of converting the rifle to an illegal assault weapon. The illegal access of law enforcement databases can also be a felony under Penal Code section 502, but prosecutors have yet to file any new charges.
Vue remains in custody, housed at Yolo County's jail because he used to work in the Sacramento jail system. His next court date is a preliminary hearing set for next Friday.
News10/KXTV
