Crime & Safety
Judge Raises Bail, Defendant Bolts From Court
Rudolph Buddy Wesley, 45, of Banning, was free on bail stemming from other charges, and when Judge Jorge C. Hernandez told Wesley he was raising his bail to $1 million, the defendant "requested to talk to his pastor," according to court minutes.
A judge was about to raise bail to $1 million on a man in Banning when the defendant said he needed to speak to his pastor, ran from the courtroom and did not come back, authorities said.
The defendant's pastor said he would try to get him to return, but he was unable to do so, according to court minutes of the Monday proceeding.
A no-bail bench warrant has been issued for the man, Rudolph Buddy Wesley, 45, of Banning.
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The hearing Monday was an arraignment for Wesley on a felony DUI warrant, Sgt. Joe Borja of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.
Wesley was free on bail stemming from other charges, and when Judge Jorge C. Hernandez told Wesley he was raising his bail to $1 million, the defendant "requested to talk to his pastor," according to court minutes.
Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A deputy asked the defendant to have a seat but the defendant "refused and ran out of courtroom," according to minutes.
Wesley's paster told the judge and the bailiff he would try to bring Wesley back but he did not, Borja said.
The judge said Wesley's current bail bond of $50,000 was forfeited, according to minutes.
The other charges stemmed from Wesley's arrest on June 25 on suspicion of domestic violence and leading police on a chase, according to Banning police.
The chase started about 1:30 p.m. that day when police tried to contact Wesley in the area of Highland Springs Avenue, where Banning borders Beaumont, police said.
Wesley was a suspect in a domestic violence investigation, police said.
Wesley fled in a vehicle, and during the pursuit Wesley's vehicle collided into another vehicle, police said. There were no injuries, police said.
The pursuit ended at Wesley's residence in the 200 block of North Cherry Street, in Banning, according to police and inmate records.
Wesley was booked Jue 25 at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of felony domestic violence, felony evading and felony resisting arrest, police said. He was released June 26 on $50,000 bail, according to inmate records.
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