SUPERIOR COURT
Bond was denied a Macon man under arrest for the charge of armed robbery in an incident that occurred this summer at a local motel.
Shedric Lanorris Mims, 48, was arrested June 16 and charged with armed robbery and felony theft by taking. Mims was indicted on the offenses by a Jones County Grand Jury Aug. 1.
Mims was in Jones County Superior Court Nov. 17 seeking a bond, represented by public defender Tom O’Donnell. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore, and Superior Court Judge Alison Burleson presided.
O’Donnell said he had worked with Mims on the case for six months and the bottom line is the victim cannot identify his client as the offender. The attorney admitted Mims has an extensive criminal history.
O’Donnell said Mims has three children and a grandchild. He said if released the defendant would live with his mother. The defense attorney noted that the victim lives out of state.
“Based on my years of experience, I feel like the defendant is entitled to a bond,” he said.
The attorney said he felt it was a good case for trial.
Fiore told the court Mims’ criminal history fills 36 pages and includes three aggravated assaults, armed robbery, kidnapping, drugs, entering autos and at least 10 felony convictions. “We believe he is a risk to reoffend and a danger to the community,” she said. The judge said, based on the nature of the offense and Mims’ criminal history, she denied bond. “I do find the facts of the case are curious and feel like it needs to be shifted to the top of the pile,” Burleson commented.
A report of Mims’ arrest by Jones County Sheriff Department Sgt. William Jackson states that he was dispatched to the motel in reference to the robbery. He said when he arrived, he made contact with the complainant, who said he was robbed by a black male with his face covered at gunpoint at 2 a.m. that morning.
The complainant admitted he had been smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol because of the recent death of his boyfriend. He said he was at the motel to try to get some sleep before returning to his residence.
The alleged robbery victim also told the officer the car he had been driving belonged to his deceased boyfriend, and it was missing.
Jackson said he made contact with the motel owner and was able to watch the security footage. They saw the complainant arrive at 2:32 a.m. Mims is seen exiting a room, getting into the missing vehicle and leaving about 5:22 a.m.
Mims was located in another room of the motel and placed under arrest.
