Taxpayers to Foot Legal Bill For Your Black Muslim Bakery Suspects

OAKLAND (KCBS) -- An attorney for the former head of the Your Black Muslim Bakery will be paid for by the taxpayers.

KCBS' Bob Melrose reports Yusef Bey IV says he cannot afford his own lawyer in a kidnapping case.

Yusef Bey IV, his brother Joshua and another man were picked up in a police raid at the Your Black Muslim Bakery earlier this month. The raid happened one day after journalist Chauncey Bailey was murdered allegedly by a handyman at the bakery.

Bey and the others are charged with kidnapping a mother and her daughter last May. Bey was also charged with 12 counts of forgery connected to another case.

But Bey says he can’t afford a lawyer so one will be appointed to him. But since another defendant in the case is being represented by the Public Defender’s Office, a private attorney must be hired.

David Washington, Joshua Bey’s lawyer told KCBS the next step is try and get bail for everyone. “There is no bail set. We’re waiting for all of the attorneys to get on board so we can make the bail motion at the same time or set dates that are convenient for all of the lawyers,” he said.

Bey is due back on court Thursday.