Arent Fox partner Joseph Price and his domestic partner Victor Zaborsky will wear ankle bracelets and must submit to weekly drug tests as part of their pre-trial release, a Superior Court judge ordered today.
Zaborsky and Price, accompanied by their lawyers, appeared in court this afternoon for arraignment on charges of obstructing the 2006 murder investigation of Robert Wone, who was killed in the Price home in Dupont Circle.
Price’s lawyer, Cozen O’Connor partner Bernard Grimm, and Zaborsky’s attorney, Thomas Connolly, a partner with Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis, entered not guilty pleas on behalf of their clients. The pre-trial release also includes curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Zaborsky and Price, who live together in the 1600 block of 16th Street N.W., are allowed to leave the District.
Price is on administrative leave from Arent Fox, where he concentrates in intellectual property law, including trademark and copyright work. He has lived in the District for 10 years. Zaborsky and Price have two biological children with a lesbian couple.
Zaborsky was wearing a dark-colored suit when he appeared in front of Superior Court Judge Frederick Weisberg for arraignment. Zaborsky was expected to be released from the courthouse this afternoon. Price will be released from the District jail. Price and Zaborsky are forbidden to have any contact with Wone's widow, who was in court today.
Grimm and lawyer David Schertler of Schertler & Onorato, who represents a third man charged, said they would revisit the pre-trial release restrictions. Schertler, representing Dylan Ward, who was arrested in Florida last month, argued the restrictions are inappropriate.
“These men have known about this for two years,” Schertler said in court. “Nobody has attempted to flee. I don’t think the conditions of heightened-supervision are appropriate.” Ward is expected back in the District next week.
Magistrate Judge Diana Harris Epps on Thursday set $100,000 bail for Price, but Price—whom a government prosecutor has called a “man of means”—was apparently unable to raise the cash. Grimm was unable to find a bondsman licensed to write bonds in the District.
Neither Price nor Zaborsky will have to post any money for their release. Before leaving court, Zaborsky winked with his right eye toward a crew of friends who’d gathered in court for support.
Comments