Haidl still free on bail but closely minded

Marisa O’Neil

A superior court judge on Tuesday rejected prosecutors’ request to

revoke bail for a defendant in a high-profile gang rape case, though

the judge did suggest limiting Greg Haidl’s freedom while he awaits a

retrial.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Francisco Briseno recommended

that Haidl, 19, not be allowed to drink, use drugs, leave Orange

County or be alone with girls under the age of 18.

Haidl was freed on $100,000 bail after a jury could not agree on a

verdict in the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl. Haidl and two

other 19-year-old defendants in the case, Kyle Nachreiner and Keith

Spann, videotaped the 2002 incident in the Corona del Mar home of

Haidl’s father, Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl.

Greg Haidl is also free on another $100,000 bail after he was

arrested last month for having sex with another 16-year-old girl.

If he violates any terms of his bail, he will go to jail at least

until the end of his upcoming trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan

Schroeder said.

“I think the court recognized that he is a danger to underage

girls,” Schroeder said of the decision.

Briseno said he was not aware of any case law in California that

would allow him to revoke Greg Haidl’s bail, even though his repeated

run-ins with the law indicated a “pattern of behavior.” Since his

arrest on rape charges, Greg Haidl has had four run-ins with the law,

for allegedly trespassing and, in the latest case, for statutory

rape.

The incidents included similar conduct of staying out late while

unsupervised, using alcohol and marijuana, going out with underage

girls and engaging in sexual activities, Briseno said.

“It doesn’t appear that he’s a quick learner,” he said.

Conditions of his bail, to be finalized at a hearing Thursday, may

involve a curfew and monitoring by an outside company hired by the

defense. Greg Haidl may have to wear an electronic monitoring device,

Schroeder said.

The judge also suggested that Greg Haidl live under close

supervision with either his mother or his father.

Greg Haidl’s attorney, Pete Scalisi, said he and his client had

“absolutely no problem whatsoever” with the proposed terms of his

bail.

The attention surrounding the trial forced Greg Haidl to quit a

job with the American Cancer Society and drop out of classes at

Saddleback Valley College, he added.

“The poor kid lives with a target on his back,” Scalisi said. “A

lot of people have harassed him, and he has received death threats.”

Those threats and attention have forced Don Haidl to put his

Corona del Mar home up for sale, Scalisi said. A search of real

estate listings on Tuesday did not show the property.

Prosecutors were disappointed that the judge did not revoke Greg

Haidl’s bail, Schroeder said. She asked community members to take a

proactive role in enforcing the terms and conditions of his bail and

reporting any violations.

“The public will become our eyes and ears,” she said. “If they see

Greg [Haidl] drinking or using drugs, they can be his probation

officer.”

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4268 or at [email protected].