A Hawkinsville man will remain in jail following a recent bond hearing in Jones County Superior Court.
Sebastian Anterion Clark, 43, was arrested March 14 on charges of suspended or revoked license, no insurance and a suspended registration.
He was indicted by a Jones County Grand Jury April 16 on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a schedule I controlled substance and possession of marijuana less than an ounce.
Clark was in court May 16, represented by defense attorney Gabriel Daniels, seeking bond.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore, and Superior Court Judge Terry Massey presided over the hearing. Daniels was first to speak on behalf of his client. He said Clark was a lifelong resident of Pulaski County and was a former football player. He added that Clark helped train high school football players.
The attorney said his client works two jobs and has children he supports. He said both companies he works for said he still had a job if he was released.
Daniels said the arresting officer testified that Clark complied with his instructions at a probable cause hearing April 4.
“I don’t believe he is a flight risk. His daughter is about to graduate, and he wants to be there,” he said.
The attorney went on to say Clark was not a danger to the community. He said Clark would agree to any bond conditions ordered by the court.
Fiore said the defendant admitted to the charges of possession of a firearm and drugs. She said he has six felony convictions, with the most recent in 2021, and he is currently on probation for a violent crime.
“He is a risk to the community and a danger to reoffend,” she said.
Fiore pointed out that Clark is banned from Pulaski County.
“I’m not sure how he is able to work with football players there,” the prosecutor added.
Daniels agreed that Clark is currently on probation, and he would have to deal with that.
After listening to the arguments of the attorneys, Massey said based on his past and violent crimes, he found the defendant to be a threat to the community and a risk to reoffend.
Bond was denied.
The report of Clark’s March 14 arrest by Jones County Sheriff Office Sgt.
Travis Walker states he was monitoring traffic when he ran the license plate on a Kia Optima. He said he was checking the plate for valid registration and insurance.
Walker said he discovered the vehicle’s registration was suspended, and there was no insurance.
Clark was identified as the driver, and he claimed the insurance came out of his car note. There was no way to check that because he did not know the name of the company.
The sergeant said he asked the driver if there were any weapons in the car, and he said there was a Glock in the middle console. Clark was asked to get out of the car to move him away from the firearm, and he was placed in handcuffs. At that time, Walker said the driver told him he dropped some marijuana on the ground. He also told the officer there was ecstasy in his pocket, and he confirmed he was a felon and on probation.
Walker said Clark was transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center, and the car was towed from the scene. He added that the driver had $1,754 on him at the time of his arrest.
