Several defendants were granted bonds in the Superior Court of Coffee County this week, with the majority of those being required due to their cases not being presented before a grand jury within 90 days. Four men who are accused of committing aggravated assault were denied release, along with many other individuals facing drug charges.
Georgia law requires that a case be presented for an indictment within 90 days of the person’s arrest, and if the person is not indicted within 90 days, they are legally required to be granted a bond.
According to an official with the District Attorney’s Office, during the COVID-19 pandemic, legislation was created to allow prosecutors to draw up accusations against defendants due to grand jury proceedings having to be postponed at times. However, if the case is not “presented to a grand jury within 90 days, they are entitled to a bond.” The legislation expired in June and is no longer in effect.
A number of bonds were granted after defense attorneys filed 90-day motions, including the following: Cleo Williams – habitual violator, DUI; Michael Chapman – possession of meth, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Justin Holt – possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Chad Jones – possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; Mikel Perry – theft by taking; Jerriance Williams – possession of cocaine (2x), possession of a controlled substance (marijuana); Devarius Peterson – trafficking cocaine, willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer; Raul Sendejas Sr. – trafficking methamphetamine, possession of cocaine; Jimel Williams – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and pointing or aiming gun or pistol at another; Roberto Carrillo – trafficking meth; Santiago Tijernia Jr. – aggravated stalking; William Tanner – burglary, obstruction of an officer; James Sims – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by receiving stolen property; Tonya Cox – theft by shoplifting (2x); Veronica Maldonado – trafficking meth or amphetamine; Joseph Henry Troupe – agg assault (2x); Dillon Griffin – theft by taking and Alejandro Jimenez – habitual violator and furnishing, purchasing, and possessing alcoholic beverages by persons below legal age.
All the defendants have required a bond on their charges; however, the individual will not be released from custody if they have outstanding probation warrants or are unable to post bail. Michael Chapman, Chad Jones, Mikel Perry, Cleo Williams, Jimel Williams, Devarius Peterson, Raul Sendejas, William Tanner, Santiago Tijernia Jr., and James Sims remained in custody this morning, according to the Coffee County Jail roster.
The only three defendants granted bonds who did not fall under the 90-day statute include Anthony Spikes – failure to report an address change as a sexual offender; Larry Page – receipt/possession/transfer of a firearm by a convicted felon or felony first offender; and Donald Ford – failure to register as a sex offender, comply with requirements/provide false info.
Four men facing aggravated assault charges will remain in the Coffee County Jail after Judge Andy Spivey denied their release, including Devon Mack, Kavonte Debro, Jimmy Crumby, and Milton Aycock Jr.
The remaining individuals denied bond include: Matthew Ansel – theft by taking; Luke McRae II – possession of a controlled substance, possession of a drug-related object, criminal attempt to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies; Spencer Carver – possession of methamphetamine, purchase/possession/manufacture/distribution or sale of marijuana and possession of a drug-related object; Roderick Adams – manufacture/deliver/distribute/administer/sell/possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance (2x) and unlawful for a person to possess/purchase or have under his control any controlled substance (2x); Kenneth Gaint – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or felony first offender, trafficking cocaine/illegal drugs/marijuana or meth, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, possession of marijuana, and Karen Mckinnon – unlawful for any person to purchase, possess, or have under his or her control a controlled substance.