Deputy LPD chief facing felony assault charges seeks reduced bond
The lawyer for a deputy police chief held at the Lubbock County Detention Center on felony assault and family violence charges is asking a district court to significantly reduce the half-million dollar bond set on his case, calling it "excessive."
Leath McClure, 41, remains held at the Lubbock County Detention Center on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of continuous violence against family.
McClure, who oversaw the department's East Patrol Division Station, was arrested Thursday after a weeks-long investigation into allegations that he beat and threatened with his gun a subordinate civilian employee he was dating for more than two years.
Interim Police Chief Gregory Rushin, who announced the arrest in a news conference, said McClure, an 18-year veteran of the Lubbock Police Department, will be on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
On Friday his attorney, David Guinn, petitioned to lower to McClure's $500,000 bond, saying it "far exceeds" what was necessary to ensure his client's appearance at future court proceedings.
As it's currently set, McClure effectively is being held without a bond, making his confinement at the jail illegal in light of his financial circumstances, the petition filed in the 140th District Court states.
The City of Lubbock website lists a police deputy chief's salary range at about $130,000 to $144,000.
"We're looking forward to having a hearing to try to get a reasonable bond," Guinn said.
A hearing on McClure's petition has not yet been set.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Deputy Lubbock police chief facing felony charges seeks reduced bond
