Prosecutors Thursday filed a memorandum supporting their position for the bond forfeiture. According to the document, investigators determined that Patel made calls from his cellular phone from outside Wisconsin on Dec. 21. Investigators also learned that Patel had attempted contact with Darshana Patel on several occasions since Dec. 20.
Atul Patel of Green Bay posted Manish Patel's bond. He and others who contributed declined comment as they left the courtroom.
Dist. Atty. Carrie Schneider plans to argue that at least a portion of the bond money held by Outagamie County came from Manish Patel.
Atul Patel told investigators that Manish Patel returned $10,000 of the $20,000 he provided toward the bond, the memorandum states.
Schneider said it's unknown whether any of the others who contributed had money returned.
According to the memorandum, many of Patel's contributors were co-owners or investors in his business ventures.
"The state believes there may be a promise of or actual reimbursement in many cases," the memorandum states.
Schneider said Darshana Patel's request for a portion of the bond money might require hearings beyond Feb. 20.
If any of the contributors step forward to seek return of bond money, Schneider said they would likely have to convince Des Jardins that they don't know Patel's whereabouts and that they haven't had contact since he fled.
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