Jail overcrowding didn’t help the chances of eight felony defendants who were denied a bond Friday.
Richmond County Superior Court Judge John Flythe conducted dozens of arraignments and 10 bond hearings during a two-hour court session, telling attorneys for several defendants he hoped to move cases along.
“I want people out of that jail,” Flythe said in a bond hearing after a defendant complained loudly he’d been in jail four-and-a-half years.
Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree recently compared Webster Detention Center to “a prison” during a recent tour, due to the length of time many defendants spend awaiting trial. He said the jail is well over its capacity of 1,200 and that the average stay is four years.
The defendant, Marquie Gunter is accused of felony murder in the 2019 death of a two-year-old child. He allegedly fired a gun toward the child’s mother and the bullet ricocheted off the ground, striking the child.
Identifying as a “Moorish American” in one of dozens of letters to the court, he’s refusing to enter a plea to protest his indictment, attorney Daniel Franck said.
Flythe read the indictment aloud to Gunter in an effort to facilitate the arraignment process, but Gunter held his ground. Assistant District Attorney Kyle Davis said a November trial date may move things along.
Another man denied a bond Friday is accused of firing a gun in a crowded area at the recent Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival.
James Michael Singleton was extremely intoxicated and told police he wanted to “kill all white people” after the incident, Davis said.
Singleton, 65, moved to the area from Columbia, S.C. to live with his girlfriend here, his attorney said. Flythe denied him a bond.
The state was “highly opposed” to giving a bond to Demetrice Antron McBride, Davis said. McBride is accused of crawling through the bedroom window of a 12-year-old, threatening to kill the girl and committing aggravated sodomy, he said.
He was previously acquitted for dealing heroin, but has prior child molestation, statutory rape, escape and other drug convictions, Davis said. Flythe denied McBride a bond.
Miguel Diaz Martinez is a “predator hiding in plain sight” who preyed on children as young as nine, Davis said. He later claimed one of the two girls was at fault, for being “over-sexualized.”
Attorney Greg Leopard said while Martinez is 70, he has the health of an 80-year-old and has appreciated the special medical care he’s getting at Webster Detention Center. Extremely hard-of-hearing, he would gladly agree to be under house arrest, Leopard said.
Martinez retired from the Army, where he had the highest-level security clearance, and later worked for 17 years servicing x-ray machines, the attorney said.
Flythe denied him a bond due to the nature of the alleged crimes and Martinez’ proximity to witnesses.
Traveon Wade told police what he’d done. He shot a man he had arranged to sell marijuana to, after the man showed up in a black mask with a gun, Davis said.
Wade had a job and no criminal history, Davis said. He claimed to work for Saving Our Streets Everywhere, a group that helps poor families.
Flythe asked if he was selling drugs in those same disadvantaged neighborhoods and denied Wade a bond.
Joseph Paul Dailey, 21, is one of a pair accused in a spree of armed robberies spree at south Augusta convenience stores, Davis said. Flythe denied Dailey a bond.
Also denied bond Friday were Yardarrel Sexton and Achilles Morales, two teens accused in a recent armed robbery at the Walton Way Circle K.
In a jail call, Morales told his mother they’d robbed a man of his gun using a BB gun, Davis said. The two suspects fled to a Fenwick Street address where the victim identified them. The day after the robbery, the victim’s car was set on fire, Davis said.
Morales’ mother said she wanted her son to get back in school but she’d been homeless. He’d live with a grandfather in Hephzibah if released, she said. Flythe denied a bond to both.
One of two defendants granted a bond Friday, Joshua Lovett is accused of transporting a large bag of marijuana to the Holiday Inn Express on Broad Street. He has a history of drug dealing and guns charges in Georgia, California and South Carolina, Davis said, opposing a bond.
The Strom Thurmond High School graduate has six children and would reside with his wife in Grovetown if released, attorney Keith Johnson said.
Flythe granted Lovett a $30,000 bond with GPS monitoring. After the good news, Lovett asked how the bond will impact his new business, and said he and his wife are involved with a daycare.
Granted a $50,000 bond Friday was Irving Lee, accused of breaking into a south Augusta business. Lee has health issues recently being shot in the chest in a random shooting at a Gordon Highway motel room, attorney Siobhan Hughley said.
