Big-rig driver’s bail undecided

PASADENA — No decision was made during a bail hearing Friday for Marcos Costa, the big-rig driver involved in a crash on Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Boulevard that killed a 12-year-old girl and her father and injured several others on April 1.

Pasadena Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench said she wanted time to review grand jury findings before making a decision.

On June 11, a Los Angeles County grand jury returned an indictment against Costa that added two counts of murder to previous charges of vehicular manslaughter and three felony counts of reckless driving. The decision was unsealed June 19 after Costa appeared in Pasadena Superior Court, and bail was set at $2.09 million.

Costa’s attorney, Scott Meister, argued for bail to be reduced, pointing out that his client had strong ties to his family living in his hometown of Boston and to the Assembly of God Church.

“He is responsible,” Meister told the judge. “He does not pose a flight risk.”

He added that Costa, who is a citizen of both the United States and his home country of Brazil, had turned in his passport to authorities.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carolina Lugo argued that taking away a passport does not guarantee a person cannot leave the country, and that the severity of the charges prompted the need for greater controls.

After listening to the arguments, Lench asked Meister to find out if his client could obtain local living accommodations if he were to be released on bail.

“I am not saying I will reduce the bail, but that may be one of the conditions if I chose to reduce,” she said.

Lench added that in addition to requiring Costa to live locally, she would also consider a monitoring device as part of his bail requirement.

Meister said he would begin making calls to find housing for his client.

The judge set a July 20 court date to revisit the bail review issue. Costa remains in custody in Los Angeles.