According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, As I Lay Dying’s frontman Tim Lambesis, who is accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife, pleaded not guilty earlier yesterday [Thursday, May 9] to a felony charge of solicitation of murder and was ordered held on $3 million bail. He faces nine years in state prison if convicted.
At Lambesis‘ arraignment in Vista Superior Court in Vista, California, Deputy District Attorney Claudia Grasso said that the musician told someone at a gym that he wanted his wife dead. He allegedly met with an undercover agent posing as a hitman, who asked Lambesis if he wanted his wife gone, and Lambesis replied, “Yes, that’s what I want.” Lambesis then gave the agent an envelope containing $1,000 in cash with detailed instructions — including pictures of his wife, her address and the code to get through a gate and dates when the “hit” could take place; when he had his children, saying that would be his alibi on how to kill his estranged wife.
The prosecutor argued at the arraignment — which was attended by Tim‘s family, fans, As I Lay Dying manager and band lawyer — that Lambesis be held on $20 million bail, but his defense attorney countered that the amount was unreasonable.
Defense attorney Anthony Salerno said afterward that he believed his client may have been the victim of a setup. “Law enforcement was fed something by someone who effectively orchestrated the whole thing … [Tim] did not intend to harm anybody,” said the lawyer, who added that someone may have given false information about Lambesis to authorities in order to “save his own skin.” “If I had to hang a tag on it, I’d call it a scumbag snitch setup,” he said.
A readiness conference has been scheduled for June 10 with a preliminary hearing to follow on July 10.
Let’s pray for Tim, his family and of course his bandmates and hope and pray that it’s all based on a misunderstanding or whatever.
‘Tim Lambesis’ Bandmates Comment On His Arrest [May 9]
***
Awakened, the sixth album from As I Lay Dying, has been released Sept. 25 2012 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was produced by Bill Stevenson, who has played drums for both the Descendents and Black Flag and is one of the most highly renowned producers in rock. His production credits include work on records by Rise Against, NOFX, Propaghandi, The Casualties and many more. The album was mixed by Colin Richardson [Machine Head, Napalm Death, Slipknot].
Killswitch Engage has announced its first headline tour in support of Disarm the Descent. Joining Killswitch Engage on the trek will be their longtime friends from San Diego in As I Lay Dying. Ohio will also be well-represented on this tour, with Miss May I and Affiance rounding out the bill. Dates & locations are listed below.
Upcoming Shows:
May 30 – Oklahoma City – Diamond Ballroom
May 31 – Austin, TX – Stubbs BBQ
June 01 – Houston, TX – | House of Blues
June 03 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
June 04 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
June 06 – Richmond, VA – The National
June 07 – Syracuse, NY – F Shed at The Market
June 08 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino
June 09 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
June 11 – New York, NY – Best Buy Theater
June 12 – Silver Spring, MD – Fillmore
June 14 – Montebello, QC – Montebello Marina/D-Tox Rockfest
June 15 – Guelph, ON – Guelph Concert Theater
June 16 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
June 17 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts
June 18 – Sauget, IL – Pops
June 20 – Denver, CO – Summit
June 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Salt Air
June 22 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
June 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee
June 25 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Grand
June 27 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore
June 28 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
June 29 – Billings, MT – Shrine Auditorium
July 01 – Fargo, ND – The Venue
July 02 – Omaha, NE – Sokol Auditorium
July 03 – Wichita, KS – Cottilion
July 05 – Milwaukee, WI – Rave
July 06 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
July 07 – Detroit, MI – Crofoot
July 08 – Joliet, IL – Mojoes
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Myspace / Twitter
View more videos at: https://nbcsandiego.com.
Related articles:
Surtur Rising – European Autumn Tour 2011 [Review Nov. 2011]
Behind-the-Scenes Footage ‘As I Lay Dying’ ‘Electric Eye’ Video [Dec. 2011]
As I Lay Dying – Decas [Album Review]
‘As I Lay Dying’ Entire New Album ‘Awakened’ Available For Streaming [Sept.2012]
As I Lay Dying – Awakened [Album Review]
‘As I Lay Dying’ First European Tour Webisode Posted [Oct. 2012]
‘Behind The Ink’ With ‘Tim Lambesis’ [Video] [Nov. 2012]
New Video Interview With ‘As I Lay Dying’s’ ‘Tim Lambesis’ [Dec. 2012]
‘As I Lay Dying’ New Lyric Video Posted For ‘No Lungs To Breathe’ [March 2013]
‘Killswitch Engage’s’ Announce Headlining U.S. Tour With ‘As I Lay Dying’, ‘Miss May I’ & ‘Affiance’ [April 2013]
‘Tim Lambesis’ Accused Of Hiring Hitman To Kill Estranged Wife ? + Video Report Update [May 2013
‘Tim Lambesis’ Bandmates Comment On His Arrest [May 2013]