Suspended lawyer Antonio M. Atalig yesterday waived his right to have a preliminary hearing in connection with his arrest on charges that he assaulted his two minor children and threatened to kill them and their mother.
Chief Public Defender, counsel for Atalig, informed Superior Court acting presiding judge David A. Wiseman about the defendant's position to waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
Wiseman granted Atalig's request.
Atalig was brought to court, but the judge allowed him to stay in the court's holding area as Hardwicke made the representation.
A preliminary hearing refers to a court proceeding in which a judge determines whether there is a sufficient evidence to hold a defendant for trial.
At the hearing, the judge must decide whether there is probable cause to believe that the crime was committed and that a defendant may have committed the crime.
Police arrested Atalig last July 29 on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, child abuse, and disturbing the peace.
Atalig has been in detention for failing to post a $25,000 cash bail.
On Friday, Superior Court associate judge Joseph N. Camacho denied Atalig's request to accept suspended lawyer Reynaldo Yana and Atalig's sister-in-law Nelida Atalig as his third-party custodians.
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