PINEDALE (WNE) — A Sublette County man pleaded not guilty at his Oct. 14 arraignment in 9th District Court to 16 charges ranging from allegedly disturbing the peace to striking and strangling a live-in girlfriend.
Mark S. Estrada, who was living in a Bondurant apartment at the time, remained in custody after requesting a jury trial for the allegations against him on Sept. 12-13, according to court records.
He faces felony strangulation of a household member, 13 misdemeanors of domestic battery, unlawful contact and breach of peace with the felony charge enhanced as a habitual offender, with two prior felony convictions for stalking and assault, records show.
During his videoconference arraignment, public defender Rachel Weksler asked District Judge Marv Tyler if Estrada’s bond of $500,000 cash or surety could be reduced to $50,000 so he could return to work during the judicial process. She said he was not a flight risk.
Weksler said Estrada has been around for 15 years, has a residence in Pinedale and is willing to wear a GPS unit if he could return to work “where there is a great need for him.”
Sublette County Deputy Attorney Clayton Melinkovich disagreed with a bond reduction – “With all due respect … the (flight) risk associated with Mark Estrada is simply too great. The potential for 50-plus years in prison creates a significant incentive.”
He also expressed concern for the victim’s safety if Estrada were released on less than $500,000 bond.
The strangulation charge as a habitual offender has maximum penalties of 10 to 50 years in prison and $10,000 fine. Each of the 15 misdemeanors carries maximum penalties of six months in jail and $750 fine.
