An Augusta man who has spent nearly five years in jail awaiting trial on multiple charges including murder was denied bond Wednesday, May 18.
Trevon Crump, 24, has pleaded not guilty in Richmond County Superior Court. Crump is accused of a slew of crimes along with Keonte E. Hall, 22, and Devonte M. Gavin, 22, in connection with a June 22, 2017, drive-by shooting.
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That night, several people were gathered at a Jonathan Court home for a birthday celebration when at least one shooter fired from a red car as it passed the home, twice. Nicholas Griffin, 16, was fatally wounded and five others scrambled to avoid being shot, too.
Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney William Hammond said that Crump was identified as the driver of the red car. At the time of the drive-by shooting, Crump was on bond in connection with a 2016 shooting.
The trial was delayed from the beginning of the pandemic because a crucial witness is in prison, and the Department of Corrections suspended transport of prisoners, Hammond said. Now the witness can be released for the purpose of testifying at trial if Richmond County Sheriff’s Office does the transportation, Hammond said.
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Defense attorney Jimmy Walker said that Crump has sat doing nothing for nearly five years, waiting for trial, and meanwhile the witnesses have scattered. Walker said Crump earned a GED and was working before his arrest, and that he could go back to work and help support his child if released.
But Griffin’s parents asked Judge Ashley Wright to keep Crump in jail. Paul Griffin said his family has been living with the delay and their grief for nearly five years, and his teenage son will never be returned. He deserves justice, his father said.
The judge denied bond. She instructed the attorneys to prepare for an Aug. 22 trial date.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
