Roberto Eguiza
WAHPETON, N.D. (KFGO) – Friends and relatives of two people killed in a motorcycle crash last year near Hankinson are speaking out against a judge they say has a history of setting bonds too low and allowing people accused of serious crimes to go free.
Almost a year ago, 42-year-old Roberto Eguiza was driving a pickup when he rear-ended the motorcycle, killing Corey and Amber Volesky. Eguiza was arrested several hours later.
Eguiza was charged with two felonies of leaving the scene of a crash and not giving aid to the victims.
Allison Pankow was friends with the Voleskys. She criticized Judge Bradley Cruff’s handling of Eguiza’s detainment.
“[Cruff] lowered the bail,” Pankow said. “All [Eguiza] had to pay was $1,000.”
Eguiza was bonded out of jail by his employer and had two court dates set. The first was for this past Monday, a date Pankow said Eguiza missed.
“From what we understand, from his lawyer, is that he wasn’t able to make contact with [Eguiza] for at least a month,” Pankow said. “He had spoken to the employer of Mr. Eguiza and he had not had contact with him for a month.”
Pankow said, several years ago, she and another woman, Neeley Wallock, were involved in an incident where another man chased them around Hankinson. The man shot at them three times.
In that case, the man was arrested and bonded out the next day for $500 dollars.
Cruff was also the judge in that case.
Judge Cruff has not responded to a request for comment.
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