SUPERIOR COURT
A defendant in a rape case was granted a $75,000 bond and required to wear an ankle monitor following a bond hearing last week.
The alleged victim in the case is 15 years old, and the defendant, also a juvenile, is 16.
The hearing took place Aug. 31 in Jones County Superior Court with Superior Court Judge Amanda Petty presiding. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore, and the juvenile was represented by defense attorney Ashley Cooper.
There was no witness testimony in the hearing, only arguments by the attorneys. Cooper said her client was in the custody of the YDC. She said he had no criminal history and is a student in the dual enrollment program at Jones County High School.
The attorney said he was also employed at a Macon country club.
“I believe evidence will show this was a consensual relationship,” she said. Cooper said his family was aware of the relationship. She said the defendant was at the alleged victim’s house, then passed her mother as he left.
“She knew she was in trouble. That’s why she made the allegations,” the attorney said.
Cooper said the defendant has strong family ties and good behavior at the YDC. She asked for a bond in the amount of $30,000 or less.
The rape was reported to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office Aug. 15. Deputy Matthew Johnson took the initial report and turned the case over to investigations.
Fiore said the facts of the case were different from those presented by the defense. She said the victim reported the rape by her ex-boyfriend, and a sexual assault kit was performed.
“She said he banged on the door until she let him in and then he forced her into the bedroom,” the prosecutor said.
She said the defendant had been stalking the victim, and it was not consensual. There was also a TPO. Fiore said there was no consent, and the defendant was a risk to attempt to intimidate the victim. The prosecutor asked for a high bond if the court was considering a bond.
Petty said different statements in a case is not unusual. She said she did not feel the defendant was a flight risk or a risk to commit another crime.
The judge said she was concerned about the serious nature of the crime and the possibility of the intimidation of the victim. She set bond at $75,000 and ordered no contact with the victim.
Petty ordered an ankle monitor and said the defendant would be under house arrest except for going to work.
