Judge rejects lower bail for jailed Lisbon man

CANTON — A St. Lawrence County judge Monday rejected reducing bail for a Lisbon man accused of possessing 12 ounces of cocaine.

Rafael Santos,25, of 214 Randall Road, Lisbon, remains in the county jail on $20,000 bail or $40,000 bond. He was charged in early May with felony first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Defense attorney Gary W. Miles said his client's father went to the jail May 20 with $20,000 cash to bail out his son. The sheriff's department seized the cash and then called the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, believing it might be drug money.

"I don't agree with the seizure of the cash," Mr. Miles said.

The status of the seized bail money was not mentioned in court Monday

District Attorney Nicole Duve argued Mr. Santos is a significant flight risk if released. County Court Judge Jerome J. Richards sided with prosecutors, keeping the same bail.

A search by St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force members allegedly found 12 ounces of cocaine at Mr. Santos's home. The drug task force in all seized 17 ounces of cocaine.

His co-defendant Ainsley N. "Matthew" Edwards, 25, of 55 Sweeney Road, Potsdam, was charged May 2 with felony first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

He is accused of selling 3 ounces of cocaine to a female confidential informant for $5,100 at his restaurant, Leonie's Jamaican Cuisine. He's out under probation supervision.

In other court proceedings:

Laquan Whitfield,21, a state prison inmate, pleaded innocent to second-degree assault.

He was an inmate at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility when he allegedly assaulted corrections officer Tracy Coffey on Dec. 21.