| Updated: 3/11/2009 8:58 am |
Published: 3/10/2009 3:59 pm |
Prosecutors paint a Russellville doctor as someone intentionally concealing "weapons of war." That's enough for a judge to order Randeep Mann held in federal custody until his trial date.
Dr. Randeep Mann, 50 will stay in federal custody, possibly until the end of his trial on illegal possession of hand grenades and having four unregistered fully automatic machine guns.
“It’s not what was expected, we hoped for better," says his defense attorney Blake Hendrix.
His defense team wanted Mann free now so he could return to his internal medicine practice in Pope County.
The government says 98 live grenades found near his home, grenades no public citizen is allowed to possess, shows just how dangerous Mann is. And large amounts of cash, like $35,000 found in the trunk of one of his cars shows his access to finances and raising the concern he may leave the country with his wife.
Reporter asks: "Mrs. Mann is there anything you'd like to say?" Sangeeta Mann quietly replied "no thank you" and kept walking.
U.S. magistrate judge H. David Young agreed with assistant U.S Attorney Michael Gordon to keep Mann in federal custody. His defense team is already working on appeals to get Mann free and practicing medicine again.
Reporter asks: "The U.S. government says that Dr. Mann possesses weapons of war. What do you say to that?" Blake Hendrix says: "He's a gun collector, he’s federally licensed, a lot of people in the country do it."
A note on the door of Mann's practice in Russellville said he planned to reopen Tuesday. That won't be happening now.
The Arkansas State Medical board suspended Mann's license to prescribe controlled substances twice, in 2003 and again in 2006, after multiple patients died under his care. Two wrongful death suits are pending against Mann in Pope County.
A grand jury will hear the weapons case in April and hand down any federal indictments at that time.
