(25 Nov 1996) English/Nat
Accused CIA spy Harold James Nicholson appeared in federal US court Monday for his initial bond hearing.
A U-S District Attorney convinced a federal judge that Nicholson may have more secrets to send to the Russians.
The C-I-A official will be held without bail until his trial.
After an hour of emotional testimony about the background and personality of alleged spy Harold James Nicholson, Federal U-S Court Judge R. Jones granted the prosecution its wish.
The defense argued Nicholson should be released on conditions he won't flee the country and will cooperate.
The government accuses Nicholson of conspiring to sell the identities of "access agents" and other secrets to Russia.
Access agents are people who spot potential recruits for the C-I-A.
In an attempt to get the court to release the former CIA agent on bond while waiting for trial, the defense brought in his family to testify about Nicholson's character.
Nicholson's mother flew from the west coast of the U-S to the other side of the country to testify on her son's behalf.
His sister and a friend of 32 years also testified on behalf of Nicholson -- nicknamed Jim -- and were shocked at the decision to keep him behind bars.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"My husband just had surgery, and that's the reason he couldn't come. But, we're pretty shook up about it. The entire family are pretty shook up about it."
SUPERCAPTION: Beatrice Nicholson, Nicholson's Mother
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Oh, I'm shocked, yeah, with all the conditions that he couldn't be released. I believe in him, 100 percent."
SUPERCAPTION: Tammy Rogers, Nicholson's sister
SOUNDBITE:
"He grew up in a really patriotic atmosphere. We lived on an air force base, we even stood up for the national anthem at the movie theatre before the movie started. We were raised to be very proud of our country and our fathers, so we saw that example all around us. Knowing Jim's character and how close we are, I don't believe it."
SUPERCAPTION: Leonard Baestrom, Nicholson's friend
His mother told the court how Nicholson grew up in a military family and was taught to respect his country.
She believes the espionage charges against her son are wrong and that the intelligence agents have made a terrible mistake.
He was raised in the state of Oregon where his parents and the rest of his family live.
Most of Nicholson's family and friends are shocked at the charges.
But the prosecution says the former agent is believed to have been trading secrets to the Russians for at least two years in exchange for 180-thousand-dollars (U-S).
Prosecutors said Monday they have evidence Nicholson has more than 61-thousand dollars in a Swiss bank account.
A defense attorney said there's a legitimate explanation for the money, but he wouldn't elaborate.
Nicholson's attorney is appealing the court's decision.
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