Fraser Michael Bohm (left) and defense attorney Alan Jackson (right) exit the Van Nuys Courthouse after a pretrial hearing Sept. 5. Jackson said Bohm’s bail should be reduced because Bohm’s family’s assets shouldn’t factor into the amount. Photo by Tony Gleason
Update: This story has been updated to include prosecutor Nathan Bartos is also a Pepperdine alumnus.
Judge Thomas Rubinson denied Alan Jackson’s, defense attorney for Fraser Michael Bohm, motion to reduce Bohm’s bail from $4 million to $2 million at a pre-trial hearing at the Van Nuys Courthouse on Friday, Sept. 5.
Bohm is charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in connection with the Oct. 17, 2023 crash that killed four Pepperdine seniors: Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Deslyn Williams and Asha Weir.
Bohm hired Jackson as his new attorney in June, replacing Michael Kraut, according to journalist Michele McPhee on X. Jackson is a Pepperdine Caruso School of Law alumni (’94) and has previously represented Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein and most recently Karen Read and prosecuted Phil Spector, according to Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP.
At the start of his argument in Friday’s hearing, Jackson said Bohm’s family’s assets shouldn’t be considered in the amount set for bail. Bohm’s family sold their home, drained their retirement funds and relied on help from others to pay Bohm’s bail, meaning reducing bail would help Bohm’s family more than it would help Bohm himself, Jackson said.
Jackson said a reduction in bail would allow Bohm to better defend himself and the other terms of the bail — such as turning in his passport and not being able to drive — would remain.
(Left to right): Defense attorney Alan Jackson, defendant Fraser Michael Bohm and attorney Jacqueline Sparagna sit in the Van Nuys Courthouse during a Sept. 5. pre-trial for Bohm. The next pre-trial hearing for Bohm is scheduled for Oct. 8. Photo courtesy of Frederick Brown of the New York Post
Prosecutor Nathan Bartos — also a Pepperdine Caruso School of Law alumnus (’06) — had a short response to Jackson’s argument. He said Bohm has already posted bail, so regardless of the means, he has shown he is capable of affording bail. Thus, there is no need to reduce bail to $2 million.
Rubinson said after reading through Jackson’s argument, it appeared the defense wants to lower bail so Bohm will more likely be able to pay Jackson. Rubinson then reminded the defense that if Bohm is unable to afford Jackson’s services, he can hire a different attorney or receive the services of a public defender.
When Bohm was first arrested in October 2023, his bail was set at $8 million, before being reduced to $4 million, Rubinson said. The standard for a murder charge is $2 million bail per charge, so a $4 million bail is already lower than what is standard. For these reasons, the motion was denied.
“There are many, many defendants sitting in the county jail right now who would love me to reduce their bail so they can hire Alan Jackson or other private counsel,” Rubinson said. “That’s not the way it works.”
Jackson told the court both the prosecution and defense are working on getting access to Bohm’s phone so they can create a scan of it. Jackson then requested another 30 days for them to work out this issue before further proceedings, which Rubinson approved.
The next pre-trial hearing will take place Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the Van Nuys Courthouse where the court will set realistic expectations of the trial.
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Contact Melissa Houston via email: melissa.houston@pepperdine.edu
