One of suspects in Rae Rae Barnes's death to appear in court next week

Friday, January 13, 2023, will mark one year since law enforcement was dispatched to a residence on Juanita Street and found Radderian Barnes suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He succumbed to his injuries and two individuals were eventually charged with murder. One of the defendants, Michael Arnold Jr., will appear in court just two days before the anniversary of Barnes' death for his first hearing.

Almost two months after Barnes, known as "Rae Rae," was killed, officers with the Douglas Police Department's Criminal Investigations Unit, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, located Arnold. DPD officials announced the arrest on March 9, reporting charges of felony murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has since been indicted on those charges, with additional counts of malice murder and armed robbery. 

The other defendant, Sedric Powell Jr., was arrested in June on counts of malice and felony murder, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida, and extradited to Coffee County soon after. He is currently incarcerated in the Coffee County Jail, awaiting trial. 

Documents filed in the Superior Court of Coffee County show that Arnold is scheduled to appear before a Superior Court judge next week for a preliminary and bond hearing. Several motions in the case have been filed by Arnold's defense counsel, Atlanta-based attorney Daniel Crumby. 

The motions filed include the request for prompt disclosure of the state's intention to introduce evidence of prior acts pursuant to O.C.G.A. 24-4-404(B); to obtain all records within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; to obtain all records within the City of Douglas Police Department; to preserve all evidence; and to compel the state to reveal the identity of confidential informants. 

A motion for bond was also filed, which will also be ruled upon by the judge. 

The hearing is set for January 11 in the Superior Court of Coffee County, beginning at 9:00 a.m.