Bend murder suspect’s girlfriend, charged with helping him flee, is arraigned after initial court no-show, arrest warrant
(Update: Cole's attorney says court absence was a scheduling misunderstanding)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Bend murder suspect Caleb Cegers' reported girlfriend, Sadie Lynn Cole, was arraigned Tuesday on hindering prosecution and other charges, having missed an initial court appearance last Thursday, prompting issuance of an arrest warrant.
Bend murder suspect Caleb Cegers and his brother Dahnte await extradition from Tennessee. Cole, 21, also was arrested that night for allegedly assaulting a bartender and helping Cegers flee.
Cole was formally charged last week with hindering prosecution, fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct for her alleged actions late August 9 and early August 10, when police said she and Caleb Cegers were asked to leave Duda’s Billiards Bar for being disruptive.
Taylor Shane Wyss, 33, was shot and killed on the sidewalk outside the bar around midnight. Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels has said Wyss did not instigate or take part in the fight inside the bar.
Police said Cole, who reportedly was dating Caleb Cegers, punched a bartender, then helped Cegers leave in a car.
After her arrest, Cole was conditionally released, pending last week’s scheduled court appearance. Among the conditions were to obey all laws, let the court know of any change in address, not leave Oregon without permission and have no contact with the bartender, a 23-year-old Bend resident, court records show.
Court records show Cole's attorney, Thomas Spear, filed a request on Friday, asking the court for an expedited hearing Tuesday to address the bench warrant.
Cole was arraigned Tuesday morning on the DA's initial charges and the warrant was canceled. She is due back in court Sept. 26 for arraignment on an expected formal indictment.
Cole's attorney said it was more a misunderstanding, not any willful absence from a court proceeding.
Spear told NewsChannel 21 that Cole's family reached out to her after her initial release from jail.
"We spoke with the investigators and DA (Mr. Gunnels) and obtained permission for Ms. Cole to leave the state for a scheduled family vacation," Spear said by email. "There was a slight misunderstanding in that we told Steve she would be out of town and asked for a court date AFTER 8/30 (her appearance was 8/24 originally) – I guess that got lost in the communications to the assigned DDA (Brooks McClain) – but once we were notified of the filing and missed court date, Mr. Gunnels agreed to today’s appearance and withdrawal of the bench warrant."
Spear added, "Ms. Cole is on a conditional release and will appear for arraignment on an Indictment (if one is filed) on 9/26."
A nationwide manhunt for the brothers ended a week ago when they were arrested separately and without incident in Cleveland, Tennessee, east of Chattanooga. Dahnte Cegers is also charged with hindering prosecution of his brother.
Unlike the nationwide felony arrest warrants that were issued for Caleb and Dahnte Cegers, warning they should be considered "armed and dangerous," Gunnels said Friday that Cole's was an "extradition warrant, limited to Oregon and neighboring states."
"Those warrants can typically be cleared if the person appears in court with their attorney within a reasonable period of time," the district attorney said.
