Lawyer for Stabbing Suspect Unsuccessful in Bid to Lower Bond

The defense attorney for unsuccessfully argued Friday in to have his client's $200,000 bond reduced.

Spatafore, who is charged with stabbing his friend with a kitchen knife Sept. 3, has been held in Macomb County Jail since he was charged with assault with intent to murder.

David Pietroski stated in 40th District Court that his client is a senior at and was carrying a 3.2 grade point average and has plans to attend Michigan State University. He added that Spatafore was not a flight risk if granted a lower bail because he does not have a car.

"He is a student. He has aspirations and he has really conducted his life, academically and athletically, that would get him to Michigan State," Pietroski said.

He requested a bond reduction to $50,000, or 10 percent, with a no contact provision with the victim and Spatafore would wear a tether.

The request, made in the courtroom filled with more than a dozen of Spatafore's classmates from Lake Shore, was met with opposition by Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Fox. He cited the seriousness of charges along with Spatafore's juvenile record for his opposition to any bond reduction.

"At this time he is charged with assault with intent to murder for plunging a knife into another young man's chest," Fox said.

He added that Spatafore has a 2009 case for assault and destruction of property, and in recent months, car theft cases in Macomb and Wayne and theft from vehicles in St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe Woods.

"It is a trending pattern of criminal conduct," Fox said. "He is a risk to the community at large."

Fox added that Spatafore had admitted to using marijuana and acid prior to the incident. Spatafore claims he was drugged by others before the stabbing occurred.

Judge Joseph Oster stated that the fact Spatafore has other outstanding cases "does color the court's mind with regards to setting a bond."

"Somebody poses more of a threat when they have more balls in the air," Oster added. "At this point I am not inclined to reduce the bond."

Spatafore will return to court for a preliminary exam on Oct. 2.