The Kings County District Attorney’s Office filed additional charges against Lemoore City Councilwoman Holly Blair on Monday related to her arrest on Saturday.
Blair appeared in court Monday morning facing charges of attempted criminal threats, dissuading a witness, domestic battery and violation of a protective order, according to reports.
She was arrested Saturday on suspicion of battery of her husband and felony criminal threats.
According to the Kings County Jail records Blair is still in custody. Her bail was has nearly doubled since Saturday – from $85,000 to $160,000.
Her husband, Paul Blair, released a statement Monday addressing the incident, calling her mentally ill and saying she needs help.
It reads: “My wife, Holly Andrade Blair, has been suffering from serious mental illness and needs help. I feel helpless right now to help her and have little faith that the Kings County Court System will do anything but try and lock her away for as long as possible.
“Regarding Holly’s most recent arrest, Holly’s actions were completely out of character. Given my general distrust of the police and criminal justice system, under normal circumstances I would not have called the police on her, but because of my experience with her since she was released on bail on June 6, I came to the conclusion that the safest place for her right now is in jail.
“Holly is my best friend and for what she has sacrificed to try and help her community, she is my hero. Unfortunately, the stress of being on the Lemoore City Council, her conflict with the Lemoore Police and the accompanying bullying our entire family received over the last year seems to have been too much for her to bear.
“I miss Holly and want nothing more in this world than to have my best friend back. At this point I can only hope that she is afforded the help she needs through the court system.”
Blair told Judge Donna Tarter during her appearance on Monday that she doesn’t remember anything or know why she is in court, according to reports from KSEE24 and CBS47.
She appeared in court on July 5 for her arraignment regarding a June high-speed chase that started in the Lemoore Police Department parking lot.
Blair appeared without legal counsel and asked the judge to delay the arraignment so she could find a private attorney to represent her.
The continued arraignment was set for July 25. Now Blair will be arraigned on both sets of charges on Wednesday.
She will appear in front of Kings County Superior Court Judge Randy Edwards.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story said Ms. Blair was arraigned on new charges.
Her arraignment on all matters was continued to Wed., July 10.
