MADERA — The 47-year-old North Fork man accused of killing prominent Mono tribal elder Gaylen Lee made an appearance in Madera County Superior Court on Wednesday morning.
Robert Moye’s July 6 booking photo
Robert Moye has been held in Madera County DOC on a $3.75 million bond since his arrest July 6 immediately following the shooting, which occurred near Lee’s home in North Fork.
In addition to the murder charge, Moye is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, being a felon/addict in possession of a firearm, and possession of marijuana/hashish for sale (over 2 ounces).
He has entered a plea of not guilty and appeared Wednesday morning before Judge Dale Blea in Department 22 for a preliminary hearing and bail review.
Moye’s court-appointed attorney, Craig Collins of the Madera law firm Ciummo & Associates, has said recently he believes his client has a strong self-defense case.
Deputy District Attorney Brooke Bergman is prosecuting the case. Her boss, Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno, said this week that “if everything goes as fast as it possibly can, homicide cases take about two years.”
Moye attends the hearings handcuffed and shackled, wearing a yellow and white striped jailhouse uniform and bright orange plastic shoes.
More than half a dozen members of Lee’s family make the drive from North Fork to attend each of Moye’s court appearances. Accompanied by a victim’s advocate, the group usually sit in the courtroom’s second or third row, about 15 feet from the defendant.
On Wednesday morning during Moye’s short court appearance, Judge Blea continued the case until Oct. 30.
The latest delay, according to District Attorney Moreno, is necessary because a number of new reports are still being turned over to the defense.
On Wednesday, Judge Blea also declined to reduce Moye’s bail.
