Alex Sanchez granted bail

January 14, 2010 by denverabc

From Tom Hayden at The Nation:

Judge Manuel Real granted Alex Sanchez bail in a closed legal proceeding
Wednesday morning in Los Angeles federal courthouse. The decision came at
approximately 11am and was announced by Sanchez’s attorney, Kerry
Bensinger, amidst cheers and tears and shouts from supporters of the
Homies Unidos founder. Parties to the agreement were sworn to secrecy and
could not be interviewed for this story, but it is known that the judge
called a closed hearing to consult law enforcement and gang experts,
including high officials in the FBI, the LAPD and the LA city attorney’s
office. An additional witness testified on condition of anonymity.
Supporters of Alex and civil liberties groups were deeply concerned about
the classified nature of the proceedings, arguing that bail hearings are
rarely if ever closed to the public and the media. But Sanchez himself
consented to the unusual process on the advice of his attorney. After
approximately ninety minutes of testimony in the closed chamber, the
hearing was terminated, and Sanchez was led away in prison-like garb and
heavy chains, surrounded by armed security guards. Bensinger then called
together Sanchez supporters in a private anteroom, saying only, “We got
bail” and “We can’t talk about this any further.” It could take up to a
week to process Sanchez’s bail.