Bail set for murder suspects

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

REDWOOD FALLS -- Even though investigators are still working on leads and talking to witnesses, the two main suspects in the June 9 murder of Frank Irving Parker appeared in court Wednesday morning.

Bail was set for both Christopher Richard "Big Smoke" Sander, 25, and Dennis William "Bundy" Pendleton, Jr., 25 -- the two rural Morton men who turned themselves into the Redwood County Sheriff's Department Monday night.

The suspects' decision to surrender was unexpected and unexplained.

"I was in an interview with someone else from this case, and they came in and told me they turned themselves in," said Redwood County Deputy Sheriff Mark Farasyn. "I was quite shocked and relieved."

The two men, who were wanted on arrest warrants for Parker's killing, came into the Redwood County Law Enforcement Center around 8:30 p.m. with their lawyers.

Faraysn said Sander and Pendleton refused to answer questions on the advice of their lawyers.

"They wouldn't comment on where they were. We didn't even ask because once they said they were exercising their (rights not to answer questions that may incriminate) we didn't go any further. We ceased questioning at that point," said Farasyn.

Sander and Pendleton made short appearances in Redwood County District Court Wednesday morning, where Redwood County District Court Judge David W. Peterson set bail at $1 million each. They were arraigned on the murder charges and outstanding assault charges, for which warrants were already issued.

Redwood County Attorney Michelle Dietrich again refused to comment on the case.

"Once it's come to its resolution, I'll have more freedom to talk about it," she said.

The men's attorneys, Jerod H. Peterson and Robert Sicoli, privately hired from Minneapolis, represented them in court and could not be reached for comment.

The murder suspects appeared Wednesday morning in regard to several different Redwood County cases.

Pendleton, who was wanted on warrants for two earlier assault cases from December 2001 and March, appeared at 9:30 a.m. About 15 minutes later, deputies were escorting him back to jail.

Sander's hearing took even less time. He appeared in court at 10:03 a.m. and was done by 10:11. The court also addressed a third-degree assault case from July 2001 during Sander's appearance.

A hearing on probable cause is supposed to be scheduled on the murder charges in the next 30 days, court officials said.

Sander and Pendleton have the option of using either cash or a bail bond and only have to pay 10 percent of the amount to go free. If they post bond, they must either follow terms set by the court or they forfeit their bail.

Peterson said both men can't have contact with the witnesses or victims in the assault cases, must remain law-abiding, keep all future court dates and can't leave Minnesota without court permission.

In the meantime, while the two main suspects sit in jail, the Redwood County Sheriff's Department is continuing its investigation.

"It's going to be a lengthy process," Farasyn said Wednesday afternoon. "Most of our leads were in reference to their location. Now that they're in custody, we've changed our focus."

Press releases from law enforcement authorities previously indicated that the murder may be related to gang activities.