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Actor Randy Quaid Held On $500,000 Bail

Actor Randy Quaid Held On $500,000 Bail

Hollywood star Randy Quaid and wife Evi have been ordered held on $500,000 bail following their arrest while attempting to cross into the United States from Canada.

The Quaids, who are wanted in California due to missed court appearances stemming from 2010 vandalism charges, were detained by Vermont State troopers on Saturday.

On Monday, Quaid told a judge he had not been informed ahead of time of the 2010 court proceeding, which he said occurred while he was in Vancouver on a previously scheduled trip.

"We heard about it through the internet, that we'd missed this court appearance," the actor said.

Vermont Superior Court Judge Alison Arms declined to reduce bail, however, citing the five-year-old warrant.

The judge did not rule on Quaid's possible extradition to California because prosecutors were unable to obtain the necessary legal documents due to the Columbus Day holiday.

Authorities said the couple skipped multiple court appearances five years ago after allegedly causing $5,000 (£3,260) worth of damage while they were squatters at a property they previously owned.

They fled to Canada, but while Evi had her citizenship bid granted, her husband did not.

Deportation can take several years - and in the meantime the 65-year-old has been required to check in with border staff every two weeks.

He was arrested in Canada earlier this week and ordered to leave the country by 14 October.

After leaving for Canada, the Quaids claimed they were being persecuted in the US and were possible targets of so-called "Hollywood star-whackers" who may have killed actors.

Randy, the older brother of actor Dennis Quaid, is known for his roles in films such as National Lampoon's Vacation and Independence Day.