Dead boy’s parents out of jail

A couple charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of their disabled 4-year-old son who was left in a sport utility vehicle for 17 hours in June 2008 are out of jail.

Stanley and Colleen Rimer were both granted a reduction in bail to $20,000 by District Court Judge Ken Cory. They have since bonded out of the Clark County Detention Center and are on house arrest.

Three previous district judges who have handled the case set bail at $250,000 for both defendants and denied motions by defense attorneys to reduce the amount.

In lowering the bail, Cory said he believed $20,000 was adequate because he did not feel either Rimer was a flight risk and they posed no danger to their minor children, who are living with their maternal grandparents in Idaho.

The second-degree murder charge stems from the June 9, 2008, death of Jason Rimer, who from birth suffered from a genetic disease that crippled his body and his mind.

The Rimers also face multiple counts of child neglect in connection with incidents involving their four other minor children.

At the time, Jason and his siblings lived in a filthy home littered with animal feces, had head lice and were provided minimal food, according to court records.

As part of the bail conditions, neither defendant is allowed to have any contact with the minor children or each other.

Cory in March had reduced Stanley Rimer's bail from $250,000 to $100,000, and Colleen Rimer's bail from $250,000 to $75,000.

Neither defendant could post that bond.

On Dec. 2, Cory reduced Stanley Rimer's bail to $20,000, a month after the trial date was delayed to November 2010 because a key defense witness -- one of the Rimers' adult children -- was serving a religious mission in Australia.

In a video obtained of the Dec. 2 bail hearing, prosecutors appeared stunned by Cory's decision.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said during the hearing the bail amount is "in the range of what most grand larcenies have."

At first Cory was going to set bail conditions so that if Stanley Rimer was able to post bond he would be released under intensive supervision, which means he would have contact with authorities every 72 hours.

Prosecutor Vicki Monroe became visibly frustrated at the prospect.

"We'll ask for house arrest or something. Intensive supervision isn't enough. If he has a place to live, he should be placed on house arrest," Monroe argued. "I'm not sure why the court is reducing bail."

Cory responded, "Frankly, I think the defense counsel is correct. If you've got the kids out of here and you look at the factors of flight risk or danger to the community, it's my determination, taking those into account, $20,000 bail is adequate."

In an interview, Stanley Rimer's attorney, public defender Tim O'Brien, said his client has strong ties to the community and poses no danger.

O'Brien also pointed out that in July, when Cory allowed Stanley Rimer released from custody to attend his mother's funeral in San Francisco, the defendant returned.

"We know he's not a flight risk because he didn't run away then," O'Brien said.

O'Brien also said his client wants to go to trial because he is innocent and intends to clear his name.

Stanley Rimer's defense includes his assertion that he was not aware his son was in the vehicle. The father was sick and in an upstairs bedroom resting the whole time.

As far as the other neglect charges go, O'Brien said, those were investigated by Child Protective Services and Stanley Rimer was cleared.

"Mr. Rimer has been able to show the court that he will comply with all court orders. I don't believe he's a risk to the community," O'Brien said during the Dec. 2 hearing.

On Wednesday, Cory agreed also to reduce Colleen Rimer's bail to $20,000 and ordered her placed on house arrest. According to jail records, she posted bond later that day.

Neither Monroe nor DiGiacomo would comment on Cory's order.

District Attorney David Roger said he respectfully disagreed with the judge's decision.

"We believe the defendants should be remanded to custody and have to post a significantly high bail, considering the charges," Roger said.

Colleen Rimer's attorney, Michael Sanft, said the judge was right to reduce bail because his client was neither a flight risk nor a risk of harm.

Sanft added that he believes a murder charge is not appropriate considering the facts of the case.

Prosecutors will have a difficult time proving intent to commit murder, he said.

Defense attorneys next intend to ask Cory to dismiss charges against Stanley Rimer. That hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.