As I Lay Dying lead singer Tim Lambesis pleaded not guilty Thursday on charges he plotted to have his estranged wife murdered, according to the Associated Press.
Lambesis was arraigned in North San Diego County Superior Court on charges of solicitation of murder, the AP reports. His bail was set at $3 million and the heavy metal singer is required to wear a GPS tracking device restricting him to the San Diego area, except to see his attorney in Los Angeles.
The singer was arrested Tuesday at a Barnes & Noble in in Oceanside, Calif. for allegedly asking a perceived hit man to kill his wife. The supposed hit man was a detective under the alias "Red." Lambesis allegedly gave him $1,000 in an envelope with detailed instructions on how to have his wife killed and provided her picture and gave the man her address, the gate security code and times when he would be with his three adopted children so that the singer would have an alibi, the AP says.
District Attorney Claudia Grasso asked Superior Court Judge Martin Staven to set bail at $20 million, the AP reported. Grasso said ex-wife Meggan Lambesis was terrified and living "in seclusion" with the couple's three children.
"He is substantially motivated to kill his wife," Grasso said.
Grasso said Lambesis emailed his wife while on tour in August saying that he didn't love her, he wanted to end the relationship, and he no longer believed in God. She later allegedly discovered he had been involved with "a string of women" while on tour.
Defense attorney Anthony Salerno said he believes Lambesis will make the $3 million bail. Salerno said he plans to ask permission for the singer to be able to perform with his band on a tour scheduled to launch a tour May 30 in Oklahoma City.
