Judge leaves bail at $100,000 for downtown Pasco embezzlement suspect

A judge refused Tuesday to lower bail for the executive director of the Downtown Pasco Development Authority, saying there is a concern he may fail to appear for future court dates. 

Michael A. Goins, 36, appeared in court wearing a jail-issued suicide smock.

His attorney, Daniel Stovern, asked for the $100,000 bail to be dropped completely or reduced to “something in the normal range of $10,000 or $5,000.”

He argued that Goins has no criminal history, has lived in the Tri-Cities for more than two years and “has some pretty extensive mental health needs.”

The $100,000 amount, set after his arrest last week, is “massively outside of the normal,” Stovern said.

Goins is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with first-degree theft for allegedly embezzling at least $90,000 from the nonprofit downtown organization.

Prosecutor Shawn Sant said the money is still missing and unaccounted for, and there is a significant risk that Goins may leave the area before the criminal case is resolved. He noted that Goins reportedly stole money from a retirement home in New Jersey, then left the state and was listed as a missing person.

Sant also said the Franklin County jail does provide mental health services, so Goins does not need to be out of custody to meet his treatment needs.

This is a developing story. Check for updates..

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Judge leaves bail at $100,000 for downtown Pasco embezzlement suspect."