Man accused of killing friend at Baker Lake has bail reduced, gets released from jail
The Snohomish County man who allegedly killed his friend while they were camping near Baker Lake in April 2019 had his bail reduced in early July, allowing him to be released from jail pending his murder trial.
Alexander Vanags, 30, of Arlington, is charged with second-degree murder in Whatcom County Superior Court for the April 13, 2019, death of 28-year-old Mark Stebakov of Arlington. Vanags was scheduled to go to trial March 23, but the trial was postponed due to the coronavirus.
On June 30, Vanags’ defense attorney, Jennifer Cannon-Unione filed a motion asking the court to release Vanags on his personal recognizance, according to court records. In the motion, Cannon-Unione states that much has changed since Vanags was initially booked into the Whatcom County Jail 15 months prior.
Vanags has been incarcerated in the Whatcom County Jail since April 13, 2019, in lieu of $1 million bail.
Cannon-Unione stated that Vanags acted in self-defense in killing Stebakov, after he began having a bad trip on LSD that the pair took and assaulted Vanags. She also said that Vanags has substantial ties to Western Washington, including co-owning a construction business in Everett and his first son who was born while Vanags was in custody, the court records show.
At Vanags’ second bail hearing on July 9, Cannon-Unione also told the court Vanags has no violent criminal history and that restrictions denying visitors at the jail due to COVID-19 presented an unfair risk to Vanags’ mental health.
Whatcom County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan Richardson said the only thing that has changed since the first bail hearing is that Vanags’ defense attorney has had time to build a case around the theory of self-defense.
“This is a case that will go to trial. I don’t see any way around that. But I do not think that because a case is contested and because the case will go to trial, I do not think that’s a reason to release somebody on a seriously violent crime,” Richardson said during the hearing.
Stebakov’s mother told the court during Vanags’ hearing that she believed he is a danger to her family and the general public.
“My son lost his life not due to an act of self-defense as being claimed today, but due to a brutal murder as evidenced in the court. … The person who committed this crime is being described as good and moral. Good people do not murder their friends in cold blood,” Stebakov’s mother said.
Richardson said Vanags had no past failure to appear, but that this was a serious case and it’s unknown how he would react and asked Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal to consider the crime in considering his danger to the public.
Grochmal then reduced Vanags’ bail from $1 million to $100,000. Vanags posted bail and was released from jail the same day.
“Looking at the circumstances of the offense, while it appears to be a very violent act, it’s not … a domestic violence case where it’s possible it will happen again if released. I do not see this as a likely danger that he will commit a violent crime if he were released,” Grochmal said. “I don’t mean to in any way diminish the loss suffered by the victim in this case and his family.”
After Grochmal’s ruling, Stebakov’s family stood and his mother said, “Why are you releasing a murderer? People who are robbing houses get in jail. Shame on you, all of you.”
Stebakov’s family was then escorted out of the courtroom.
Vanags’ jury trial is tentatively set for Aug. 17.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
