Government won’t get one-time Erie fugitive Ronnie Shaw’s $50,000 bond [Erie Times-News, Pa.]

April 06--The bail bond company that posted one-time fugitive Ronnie Lee Shaw's$50,000 bond won't have to forfeit the money to the government, an Erie County judge ruled Thursday.

Staff from the company, Cutting Edge Bail Bonds LLC, of Cranesville, quickly found Shaw and reported him to law enforcement once he became a fugitive in January, President Judge Ernest J. DiSantis Jr. said.

In addition, the Erie County District Attorney's Office did not incur any expense or harm to their case against Shaw because of the delay of his trial, he said.

The ruling was a win for the company's owners, David and Michelle Wasmund, who through their lawyer, J. Timothy George, asked DiSantis not to force them to forfeit the $50,000.

Shaw faces trial in May on charges he shot William Ettison in the arm, the leg and the stomach on June 2, 2010, in the 400 block of East 23rd Street.

On Wednesday, Shaw was bound over for trial on additional charges that he tried to intimidate Ettison in December from testifying against him.

Shaw, of the 300 block of East 22nd Street, failed to appear for trial in January in the attempted homicide case. He was caught Feb. 8 after the Wasmunds found him at his mother's home and alerted the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office sought to forfeit at least part of Shaw's bond.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Cullen told DiSantis that Shaw's failure to appear raised concern with both the victim and witnesses.

George said the interest of justice demanded that the Wasmunds not be forced to forfeit the bond. DiSantis agreed.

"There really has been no prejudice," the judge said. "The Commonwealth has not had its ability to prosecute him impaired."

LISA THOMPSON can be reached at 870-1802 or by e-mail.

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