A judge denied bond for two people accused of murder and other charges in alleged gang shootings that lead to the death of 8-year-old Arbrie Anthony.
In separate Richmond County Superior Court bond hearings Wednesday, Aug. 10, Judge Ashley Wright denied the bond requests made on behalf of Destiny Rich, 22, and Michael A. Freeman, 39.
They are accused in some of the charges lodged in a 23-count indictment returned following two drive-by shootings by one set of gang members feuding with another. It left innocent victims shot, like Arbrie who was killed Jan. 8 as she excitedly petted a horse brought to her public housing complex by a good Samaritan, said District Attorney Jared Williams.
MORE: Two more accused in Arbrie Anthony death
Two days earlier, a 16-year-old and 14-year-old were also victims of a drive-by shooting in Dogwood Terrace. They, too, were innocent victims who had nothing to do with the Loyalty Over Everything gang or its rivals in the Southside, Williams said.
Freeman is a member of LOE who participated in the drive-by shootings, Williams said. Rich rented a Jeep for Antoine Redfield, 22, and that Jeep was used in the second drive-by shooting when Arbrie was killed, Williams said. She didn’t come forward with that information and she lied to sheriff investigators, Williams said.
But defense attorney Ricardo Bravo countered that Rich is a 22-year-old high school graduate with no criminal history who is being dragged into the case because of what others have done. Rich has a very sick baby at home who needs daily medical care, he said.
Rich’s father and Freeman’s mother both spoke at their children’s bond hearings to express their sympathy for Arbrie’s family. Both also denied their children were gang members. Between her sick baby, school and work Rich didn’t have time for any gang, her father said. Freeman’s mother told the judge that her son may have gotten into trouble years ago, but since then, he served in the Army and was doing well after returning home.
Defense attorney Charles Rollins said although he hasn’t received discovery yet, what information he has obtained fails to prove Freeman was involved in the shootings. Just weeks before the shootings Freeman was involved in a serious vehicle crash that left him injured, and he must still have spinal surgery, Rollins said.
Although she denied bond for both Rich and Freeman, the judge noted another defendant in the case has filed a speedy trial demand, which sets the case on the fast track for trial. Such a demand requires trial within two terms of court. A term of court in Richmond County is about two months.
MORE: Bond denied to another accused of murder in Arbrie Anthony death
The other defendants accused in the same indictment in addition to Rich and Freeman are Antoine Redfield, 22, Henri Beach, 21, Kendariss Brown, 32, Antionous W. Thomas, 20, and Michael D. Tolbert, 22.
Also Wednesday, another woman who was friends with Redfield and is now indicted on charges of making a false statement and hindering the apprehension of a criminal was granted a $30,000 bond with electronic monitoring and a long list of conditions to restrict her movements and who she interacts with.
Octavia Brown, 24, is accused of lying to sheriff investigators when initially questioned about the Jeep rented for Redfield, and of deleting texts between her and Redfield.
Redfield had been in jail until Nov. 16 in connection with a double murder indictment that was dismissed. He had been jailed in connection with the Dec. 7, 2019, fatal shootings of Charles E. Lawson III, 28, and Jabrie Dominguez, 23, outside an Augusta nightclub.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
