Jackson Jambalaya

Hinds County Court Judge Johnny McDaniels revoked Derrick Coleman's bond after he failed to wear a GPS monitor as required by his bond. Coleman was supposed to wear the monitor after his wife filed domestic violence charges and obtained a no-contact order against him.  She disappeared two months ago.

Latasha Crump Coleman has not been seen since July 18.  The 46 year-old woman is an employee at the Mississippi Department of Corrections.  

Coleman filed domestic violence and malicious mischief charges against her husband on July 17, 2022.  A Jackson Municipal Court issued a no-contact order against him the next day.  Derrick went to her home on July 21 and kicked in the door, violating the no-contact order.  Latasha filed more charges against her husband on July 22.  

Jackson Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Reynolds ruled on July 25,2022 that Derrick was guilty of violating a no-contact order "related to several domestic violence charges" filed by Latasha.  The Court said Derrick was an "extreme danger to the victim."  Judge Reynolds set his cost bond at $2,500 and appearance bond at $250,000.  

Derrick's attorney, Damon Stevenson, appealed to Hinds County Court and asked Judge Johnny McDaniels to reduce the bond in an emergency motion filed a week later.  

Judge McDaniels agreed with the lawyer and reduced the appearance bond to $50,000 while leaving the cost bond in place.  He ordered Derrick to wear a GPS monitor for 270 days or "until the appeal is resolved" and kept the no-contact order in place . 

Unfortunately, Derrick never got a GPS monitor as the responsibility for obtaining the device was - wait for it - left to the defendant. 

No action took place in the case until Jackson prosecutors filed an emergency motion to revoke his bond on September 14, 2023.  The motion states: 

6.  That said Order provided that certain other conditions be met, namely the no contact order previously entered by the Jackson Municipal Court remained in place until further order of this Court, the City has reason to believe that the no contact order has again been violated.
7. That said Order provided that the defendant not return to the marital residence until further order of this Court, the City has reason to believe that said order has again been violated.
8.  That said Order provided that the defendant shall be subject to GPS monitoring at his expense for 270 days or until the appeal is resolved, the City has reason to believe that said order has been violated.

 Latasha's family packed the small courtroom.  Emotions understandably ran high. Two Assistant District Attorneys sat behind City Prosecutor Bridget Morgan in an indication of the District Attorney's interest in the case.  

Judge McDaniels warned the audience about outbursts as eight bailiffs were on hand to keep order. He said the hearing would only focus on whether Derrick complied with the bond requirement he wear a GPS ankle monitor. 

Stevenson fired the first shot as he claimed all parties agreed to the bond reduction order and the city did not file an opposition to his motion to reduce bond.  However, Morgan said although her office did not file a response, she argued against the reduction in court.  She signed the order only after Judge McDaniels lowered Coleman's bond.  

Morgan said Derrick did not get the monitor.  Judge McDaniels asked the prosecutor when she became aware of Coleman's failure to wear a monitor.  "At a status hearing, little over a month ago," replied Morgan. 

Stevenson fought back, stating the prosecutor did not file a motion to revoke bond until 363 days after the bond reduction order.  He argued Morgan could have asked for a hearing date for the appeal at any time but took no action to "move the case " until Judge McDaniels recently held a docket call. He said the city's motion to revoke alleged no facts but was a collection of vague arguments. 

Judge McDaniels shut down the intrepid lawyer as he decreed the Court has a duty to enforce its own order.  The hearing boiled down to one question: Did Derrick Coleman wear the required GPS monitor.  

Stevenson said his client got the monitor from Big D's Bail Bonding in Crystal Springs.  However, Stevenson could not state how long Derrick wore the monitor nor did he provide any records from Big D's.  The defendant obtained a monitor after the motion to revoke his bond was filed. 

The Court heard enough as Judge McDaniels slowly and deliberately said "What I'm hearing is at some point, Mr. Coleman chose to ignore" the requirement to wear a GPS monitor. 

Stevenson pushed back, arguing the order only stated Coleman "shall be subject to GPS monitoring at his expense for 270 days or until the appeal is resolved."  Thus Coleman wasn't required to wear a monitor after 270 days.  "That is a novel interpretation" replied the judge.  

Sensing a loss, the defendant's lawyer said he would obtain the records but Judge McDaniels said he was not continuing the hearing as he would rule on the motion "today."  "The order contained plain language and means what it said," said the judge.  Judge McDaniels did not say "I meant what I said and I said what I meant and I meant it 100 percent."  

The Court said it would address all other issues such as the scheduling of a trial for the appeal at a status conference in November.  

When the arguing was said and done, the Court ruled Derrick Coleman "willfully violated a condition of his bond that he obtain a GPS monitor until the matter was resolved.  As such, this court finds this a violation, the defendant is in willful criminal contempt" as it revoked his bond.  

Deputies immediately placed the defendant in handcuffs and took him into custody.  

Kingfish note: A WAPT photographer and reporter covered the hearing but a family member said she was told legal spiked the story.  Hate that for the crew because it did it's job.