Judge sets $30m bail in 18-year kidnapping case

A JUDGE yesterday set bail at $30 million (€20.5m) for a California man accused of kidnapping a girl and holding her captive for 18 years.

Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife, Nancy, have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment charges and had been held without bail in an El Dorado County jail.

The couple are accused of kidnapping 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard from her home in 1991, then holding her captive in a backyard jumble of tents and sheds for nearly two decades.

Police say Phillip Garrido fathered two daughters with Dugard.

El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Douglas Phimister set the high bail amount, citing the serious nature of the charges, injuries to the victim and the fact that Garrido was on parole at the time of the alleged abduction.

Nancy Garrido continues to be held without bail, something her attorney did not object to during the hearing yesterday.

Phillip Garrido appeared in court with a bandage on his nose and a newly grown beard. He and his wife both appeared solemn at the 10-minute hearing, during which Phillip Garrido's attorney requested a psychiatric evaluation for her client and Nancy Garrido's attorney also reserved the right to request one.

Both are due back in court for an October 29 hearing.

Police are trying to determine whether Garrido is linked to the 1988 kidnapping of Michaela Garecht, Hayward Police Lt. Chris Orrey said earlier this month. Garecht and Dugard were of similar age and appearance.

Meanwhile, Jaycee Lee Dugard is preparing to finally tell her story on The Oprah Winfrey Show in December. Reports said she will get $1 million for appearing.