Bail ruling expected in Russian tech theft case

HOUSTON (AP) — A judge is expected to rule on whether to offer bail to the owner of a Texas microelectronics company accused of conspiring to sell advanced technology to the Russian military.

The ruling is to come Thursday in Houston in the case of Alexander Fishenko.

Prosecutors oppose bail for the Kazakh-born naturalized American citizen, declaring him a flight risk. Fishenko’s attorney, Eric Reed, said his client wouldn’t flee because he has a 7-year-old son living in the area.

Fishenko, the owner of Houston-based Arc Electronics Inc., and seven of his employees were arrested last week. Prosecutors say Fishenko instructed co-workers and associates to cover their tracks as they conspired to sell the highly regulated microelectronics.