Hospital Murder Suspect’s Bail Doubled : Crime: Prosecutor cites ‘danger to the public’ from man accused of shooting three at Costa Mesa facility.

NEWPORT BEACH —  Citing a “danger to the public,” a prosecutor Thursday got bail doubled to $500,000 for murder suspect Michael E. Rahming, who made his first appearance in court after this week’s shooting rampage at a state hospital for the mentally retarded in Costa Mesa.

The public defender appointed to represent Rahming said he will explore “the problems (Rahming) was having at his employment, how that was affecting him” to determine whether an insanity defense will prove his best legal tactic.

He also raised questions about the release of personnel records on Rahming’s psychiatric history, which has been publicized widely in the news media since Tuesday’s shooting.

The statements from the prosecution and defense came as Rahming, 38, a Florida native who lived in Long Beach until his arrest Tuesday morning, appeared for arraignment in Orange County Municipal Court in Newport Beach.

The arraignment was put off until Aug. 16 at the request of the defense, but Deputy Dist. Atty. Randy Pawloski filed charges against Rahming, including murder, two counts of attempted murder and weapons counts.

Authorities allege that Rahming, a painter at the Fairview Development Center since 1988, shot two of his supervisors in the complex paint shop Tuesday morning, killing one, then drove to the administration building and shot the hospital director.

Rahming said little at his court hearing, which was crowded with news reporters, some of his friends and several Fairview representatives. Clad in a blue jail suit, he answered in a low voice as Municipal Judge Richard F. Toohey asked him his birthdate and whether he could afford a lawyer. Rahming said he could not, and Toohey appointed Deputy Public Defender David C. Biggs.

Rahming appeared confused for a moment, staring blankly ahead as Toohey asked him whether he gave up his right to have a preliminary hearing within 10 days on the charges against him. After a quick glance at Biggs, Rahming said he did.

Rahming had been in custody in Costa Mesa Jail on $250,000 bail since his arrest. Prosecutor Pawloski acknowledged this is the standard bail in a murder, but given the extraordinary nature of the case and the “danger to the public” posed by Rahming, he sought double that amount.

When the defense offered no objection, Toohey set bail at $500,000.

Biggs said he would seek a hearing for reduced bail later, but, in speaking with reporters outside the court, said he understood the prosecutor’s reasons for the increase.

“I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who are still concerned about their safety, and we don’t want to put any unnecessary fears in their minds,” he said.

Biggs did say that he found it “kind of odd” that “supposedly confidential” personnel records had been released to the news media. Biggs said he presumed that the hospital had been the source of the records but would not say how he planned to use this issue in the defense.