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Filipek III's lower bail request denied

Magistrate Judge Reigh called the drug and weapon-related charges "very serious," and kept $10,000 cash bail in place.

DILLINGHAM:  An attorney for John Filipek III, 25, who allegedly sold fake heroin to a woman last November and threatened her with a gun if she failed to pay for it, asked a magistrate judge to lower his bail from $10,000 to $5,000 cash.

Filipek's lawyer cited his ties to the community, "off and on" work at a local fuel distributor, and need to support a child as reasons why the lower bail was appropriate.

The state prosecutor disagreed, saying Filipek's alleged actions in this case and others suggest he's a danger to the community. Filipek has a lengthy rap sheet, including past convictions for importation, criminal mischief, multiple assaults, and felony coercion.

Magistrate Judge Tina Reigh called the alleged crimes "very serious," and denied the request. The requested $5,000 bail, she said, is "too low for this court."

Still, Reigh pointed out that the drug and extortion case against Filipek is not built on the "strongest evidence," which she said had prompted her to set bail at $10,000 while the state had originally asked for higher.

Filipek's case dates to last November. He is alleged to have fronted a 20-year-old local woman $400 worth of heroin, or two doses. She told police later that the substance from Filipek produced no intoxicating effects, and she confronted him over the fake heroin. She said he pulled a gun on her, and threatened to shoot her if she didn't pay.

Police say the gun was fake, too, and in court Filipek admitted that it was a realistic looking BB gun. He also told police the "fake heroin" was made from burnt plastic, according to the police affidavit.

The woman told police she had been buying heroin from Filipek for months. She said she had been threatened with physical violence previously after Filipek fronted her doses of heroin she couldn't afford to purchase at the time.

Dillingham Police served a warrant last week, recovering the BB gun and what they say is more of the fake heroin. Filipek was arrested and charged with a felony drug charge and felony extortion.