A Jones County man arrested for aggravated assault was granted bond in Superior Court last week.
Michael Todd Randall was arrested April 14 following the report of a family disturbance. In addition to the aggravated assault charge, he was charged with battery and criminal trespass. All the charges were under the family violence act.
Randall was represented by public defender Tom O’Donnell, and Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore prosecuted the case.
Chief Superior Court Judge Brenda Trammell presided over the case. After hearing the arguments of the attorneys, the judge granted Randall a $40,000 bond. The bond conditions include no contact with the victim and being banished from Jones County with the exception of court appearances and meetings with his lawyer.
Randall was further ordered to maintain employment, attend two AA meetings a week and attend an anger management course.
The bond petition was brought by O’Donnell on Randall’s behalf. The attorney said he just received the case, and after reviewing the file, he had no doubt an affray had taken place.
“I don’t deny there were marks. I agree there is an issue that needs to be resolved, but my client not working is not going to help that,” O’Donnell said.
The attorney said the complainant had bruising, but so did the defendant. Fiore said the complainant had lesions on her face, neck, chest and her elbows had scrapes from being pushed down.
“The victim is afraid he will hurt her,” the prosecutor said.
Fiore read Randall’s criminal history that included a battery charge in 2013 in Bibb County and another charge in Jones County in 2019. She said he had numerous charges in Monroe County, all family violence related.
“We ask you deny bond. He is a risk to reoffend and is a danger to the victim,” she said.
O’Donnell argued this client was entitled to a bond.
Trammell said the court bonds most aggravated assaults.
“I’m not minimizing domestic violence, but I feel it can be controlled,” she said.
The judge spoke directly to the defendant when putting the bond conditions in place.
“You will have absolutely no contact with the victim. If you have any violation, you will be locked up until your trial,” she stated.
The report of the incident leading to the arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Albert Keith Elliot stated he was dispatched to the disturbance call at 10:30 p.m. April 14. He said Randall had left the residence, and he spoke with the complainant. The deputy said she had obvious facial injuries, and he contacted EMS.
Elliot said he was told a verbal altercation escalated to physical when she tried to remove herself from his presence. When the offender continued to berate her, the complainant said she locked herself in the bathroom, and he broke down the door.
The allegations against Randall included the complainant being straggled and kicked in the back, causing her to fall onto her face. She said the offender took her phone and would not let her call 911.
The complainant told the officer Randall said he was going to claim she hit him in the face with a frying pan and then he punched himself in the face.
Elliot said warrants were secured against Randall for aggravated assault, battery and criminal trespass.
