Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Accused stabber must stand trial

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Ricardo O. McQueen

A Ketchum man accused of stabbing two brothers behind a Hailey bar in September has been ordered to stand trial on two felony counts of aggravated battery.

Ricardo O. McQueen, 29, who court records list as a Bahamian citizen, is accused of stabbing Rodrigo Herrara, 29, of Hailey, and Pier Herrara, 24, of Bellevue, at about 2 a.m. Sept 30 during a fight behind The Mint Nightclub and Billiards Hall on Main Street in Hailey. According to Hailey police, both men received serious chest wounds that required hospital treatment.

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Following a two-day preliminary hearing earlier this month, Blaine County Magistrate Judge R. Ted Israel ordered McQueen to stand trial in 5th District Court on the charges.

McQueen is currently free on $75,000 bond. An arraignment date in district court had not been scheduled as of Tuesday, but will likely be held sometime in January, according to court personnel.

Meanwhile, 5th District Court Judge Robert J. Elgee has disqualified himself from the case at the request of Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Thomas, who filed a "motion to disqualify without cause" on Dec. 1. District Court Administrative Judge Barry Wood has been assigned to hear the case.

In filing the motion, Thomas was not required to state a reason in requesting Elgee's disqualification. Thomas has requested that Elgee disqualify himself from at least three felony cases since early September.