All three suspects in gang-rape case plead not guilty

Deirdre Newman

A Superior Court judge set a bail amount for the three suspects

accused of allegedly gang-raping a 16-year-old girl in a Corona del

Mar home, overruling a deputy district attorney’s request not to

because of the viciousness of the crime.

At the arraignment Wednesday, Judge Craig Robison set the bail at

$100,000 each for Gregory Haidl, Kyle Nachreiner and Keith Spann --

all 17-year-old students at Rancho Cucamonga High School.

The three allegedly drugged the victim’s drink and then raped her

while a video camera filmed the incident on the evening of July 5 in

the home of Don Haidl, an assistant sheriff with the county.

All three pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and will return to court

Aug. 12 for a pretrial hearing. As of press time, no one had posted

bail.

Family and friends of the suspects packed the courtroom. As the

defendants were led into the partitioned area wearing orange

jumpsuits, Haidl stood up and mouthed something to his son. His

ex-wife and daughter clasped hands, fighting back tears.

During the arraignment, Deputy District Atty. Jana Hoffmann argued

that the severity and sophistication of the crime, in addition to the

arrogance the victims took in videotaping it, justified withholding

bail.

“They pose a serious danger to society and the victim,” Hoffmann

said.

John Barnett, who represents Nachreiner, suggested $50,000 bail.

Outside the courtroom, Joseph Cavallo -- who represents Gregory

Haidl -- said the arraignment went as expected.

“The judge was kind and thoughtful in his research and analysis,”

Cavallo said.

Cavallo steadfastly maintains his client’s innocence and said the

case is being overzealously prosecuted and investigated.

“My boy is the least culpable of any of them,” Cavallo said. “Yet

he’s the name that comes up constantly in the papers, out of the

district attorney’s office. He is the one that has been pillaged by

the Newport Beach Police Department. Only his house has been searched

twice.”

Although Cavallo would not disclose any of his defense strategy,

he revealed that he has brought on board Armand Arabian, a retired

California Supreme Court justice who, Cavallo said, is an expert on

rape laws.

All three attorneys have seen the tape, which Newport Beach police

received last week. Cavallo said the video does not accurately depict

the charges against his client.

Ann Cunningham, Spann’s attorney, defended the character of her

client.

“All I’ve heard is he is quiet, polite and respectful,” Cunningham

said. “I understand the victim likes him a lot, too.”

Also in the courtroom was David Wheatley, 16, who said Haidl and

Nachreiner have attacked him on two separate occasions. Wheatley’s

mother was also present to identity Nachreiner for an ongoing Rancho

Cucamonga Police Department investigation about the attacks.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].