A man charged in connection with crimes related to keeping a woman in a cage as a “sex slave” will remain in jail after losing a bond request Friday.
Demichael Dawson, 24, nicknamed “No Good,” is accused of beating and pistol-whipping the victim who was locked in an animal cage at a Nellie Drive residence, Richmond County Superior Court prosecutors said. Witnesses said Dawson stated men were en route to “have sex with her.” He is also alleged to have pointed a gun at a witness.
Dawson is charged with false imprisonment, kidnapping, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a felon in the commission of a crime. He and four others were arrested Nov. 29 in the incident. Since then, two suspects, Dawson Weston and Savannah Piazzi, have remained in jail at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
Suspect Shonna Powell, who witnesses said was keeping the victim as her “sex slave” as payment for debts, committed suicide in jail Dec. 22, according to authorities.
The victim, who did not appear in court Friday, was afraid to come out of the residence to male deputies and remains under around-the-clock care, prosecutors said.
Dawson is awaiting trial on unrelated felonies of theft by receiving a stolen gun and possession of a firearm by a first offender. In 2017, he pleaded guilty as a first offender to arson for setting fire to a Salvation Army property, burglary of T.W. Josey High School and giving a false name to law enforcement.
Court records said he had “obvious mental health issues” and developmental disabilities. He was paroled in 2020 after serving part of a five-year sentence.
Denying Dawson’s request for bond, Richmond County Superior Court Judge Amanda Heath said the facts of his case Friday were “very disturbing” and that she believed he remains a threat to the community.
