Tim Lambesis Pleads Not Guilty

UT San Diego is reporting that As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis has pleaded not guilty to one count of solicitation for murder at his arraignment in Vista Superior Court.

His family, fans, band manager and band lawyer packed the courtroom, and many wrote letters to the judge in anticipation of the hearing.

The prosecutor argued that Lambesis be held on $20 million bail, citing the musician’s wealth and global connections, but his defense attorney argued that the amount was unreasonable. If he bails out, he was ordered to stay away from his wife and their three children.

Lambesis was arrested on Tuesday at a store in Oceanside, CA after allegedly soliciting an undercover cop to murder his ex-wife for hire.

If Lambesis plead not guilty he — or his lawyer(s) — must think he has a case here. If he later decides he wants to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence he can attempt to change his plea, but that request can be denied.

Read what Lambesis’ bandmates and wife had to say about the situation.

We’re all still in shock here and don’t really know what else to say. We’ll continue to watch and see how this shakes out.