Michael Arnold Jr., one of the suspects who have been indicted in the death of Radderian “Rae Rae” Barnes, was denied bond during his first court appearance since his arrest last year.
Arnold Jr. was arrested in March 2022, two months after Barnes was discovered suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Juanita Street. He succumbed to his injuries after being transported to the hospital. Arnold was apprehended and later indicted on charges of felony murder, malice murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
A preliminary hearing was also scheduled, but due to Arnold already being indicted on the charges, the state objected to the request for the hearing.
Arnold’s counsel, Atlanta-based attorney Daniel Crumby, told the judge that they were seeking a bond and would ask that the motion be considered so Arnold “could be with his family” as the case played out in court. He also said Arnold would follow all conditions of a bond if he was released, including the possibility of wearing a GPS ankle monitor on house arrest.
Assistant District Attorney John Rumker informed Judge Dewayne Gillis that Arnold was on probation at the time the crime occurred, so if he were to grant a bond in this specific case, he would still be incarcerated.
Rumker stated that Arnold pled guilty as a first offender in a separate case on March 11, 2019, and received a 5-year probation sentence. “He is still completing that sentence, and he’s not asking for a bond in that one, so he wouldn’t be getting out of jail.”
According to Rumker, Arnold also had other misdemeanor convictions before his most recent arrest, including charges of theft (Atkinson County) and obstruction. He also told the judge that since he received probation in 2019, he had been arrested and convicted on a simple battery charge – family violence in 2020.
“This defendant went to Radderian Barnes’ home and stole from the victim. He shot the victim in the back in his home, and then he was shot again in the street, with around four or five gunshot wounds, I believe,” Rumker stated.
Crumby then again asked the judge to consider a bond and any reasonable conditions. “I believe there can be a bond set here with reasonable conditions, and if so, he will follow those,” Crumby stated.
Ultimately, after hearing statements from the state and the defense, Judge Gillis denied the motion.
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.
At this time, a trial date has not been set for Arnold or Powell. They will remain in the Coffee County Jail until a trial is held or until they enter a guilty plea.