WALLACE - Bail was set at $150,000 for Heather Crawford Tuesday afternoon during her status hearing in Magistrate Court.

Heather Crawford, 26, is charged with the Aug. 22 first-degree murder of a 22-month-old child. She was arrested Nov. 22 and initially held without bail.

The hearing began with Crawford's attorney making a motion for bail to be set at $50,000. The attorney said Crawford has lived in North Idaho since 1992 with little prior criminal history. She said Crawford had two options of living arrangements if bail was set and paid.

First, Crawford's mother works in Alaska and owns a home in Shoshone County. The other living option would be for Crawford to live with her brother, who also resides in Shoshone County.

Keisha Oxendine, representing the state of Idaho, said the state was requesting bail be denied.

"In regards to Idaho Criminal Rule 46, this is a case in which the crime is punishable by death and the death penalty has not been taken off the table in this case," Oxendine said. "The court previously heard argument regarding the setting of bail in this case and the state is requesting no bail."

Oxendine said because the death penalty is an option for the case, there is a flight risk associated with allowing Crawford out on bail. She stated concern for the possibility that Crawford's mother would provide an opportunity for her to flee the area, leading to an expensive manhunt to get her back.

Oxendine said there was also an issue of physical threat, both to the public and to Crawford herself.

"The state would ask that the court take judicial notice of a previous civil commitment in which Ms. Crawford indicated, at the time of her evaluation, that she wished to harm herself," Oxendine said. "The manner in which she wished to do that was to drive her vehicle into another vehicle, or to allow another vehicle to hit her."

Oxendine said the state believes the likelihood of a conviction is high - which would aggravate the possibility of Crawford fleeing the area or of doing harm to herself and others.

Crawford's attorney contended that Crawford had not previously been committed and remade the request for a $50,000 bail.

Oxendine said a secondary concern regarding Crawford's release would be the possibility of substance abuse while she is left on her own.

"We have reason to believe that on the night of this incident that miss Crawford was engaging in the use of alcohol with her prescribed medications, which may have contributed to this crime," Oxendine said.

Judge Daniel McGee set bail at $150,000. If Crawford posts bail, she will also be required to wear a security device and be subject to random drug testing.

In a separate motion Crawford's preliminary hearing was moved from this morning to 9 a.m., Dec. 19.