Saturday, September 30, 2023

Court Revokes Husband's Bond after Wife Disappears

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. 

 

 

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

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

I didn't know that. That's just ridiculous. I understand that the person should have to pay for it, but come on.

This poor lady and her family. She did the right thing. Reported it, went to the police, everything.

Anonymous said...

Basically the prosecutor and judge who should have protected this woman instead failed her at the cost of her life. Too bad her family cannot sue them both for incompetence and dereliction of duty.

Anonymous said...

More third world drama and incompetence.

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you." Or not.

Anonymous said...

Protective orders are a joke! Only Smith & Wesson or Mr. Glock will protect you.

Third World/Banana Republic said...

Jackson and Hinds County - always a dollar short, a day late and in last place. (But #1 in incompetence).

The rest of the country ensures that a suspect receives and wears their ankle monitor, but here they are "on their honor" to take care of that.



Anonymous said...

Society's downfall can be traced to judges who want to be social workers and "do some good" when they are expected to RULE. They are the arbiters of the LAW. When it's delayed, deviated from, etc. there is no enforcement of law.

Anonymous said...

Why would legal spike the story? Because Latasha hasn't been found?

Anonymous said...

Who is "legal" and where is the story being suppressed? WAPT?

Anonymous said...

Latasha is dead! RIP

Anonymous said...

9:21 - Ya Reckon?

Anonymous said...

If he used his GPS monitor as a deposit on a backhoe rental I would be concerned.

Anonymous said...

The headline is bogus. His bond was revoked because he failed to follow the court's order re the ankle monitor...not because the woman disappeared.

While it's true that the revocation followed the disappearance, the disappearance was tangential to the revocation.

But, The Fish, who loves a sexy headline, would have you think the judge got all agitated by the woman's disappearance, so he reflexively revoked bond.

Semiko Crump said...

How dare you say my sister is dead? Rest in peace… WTF!!!!!! If she is dead it’s because of Derrick Coleman, his family, and friends! Judge McDaniels and Judge Stevenson are both involved in sweeping my sister case under the rug! How can you trust judges that doesn’t do their jobs instead take kickbacks! My family will never be silenced! Everyone involved in my sister disappearance will be held accountable!

Kingfish said...

Many of us are hoping and praying with you.

Anonymous said...

"How can you trust judges that doesn’t do their jobs instead take kickbacks!"

Evidence? Or just poppin' off?

Anonymous said...

Replying to the post below.

The headline is bogus. His bond was revoked because he failed to follow the court's order re the ankle monitor...not because the woman disappeared.

While it's true that the revocation followed the disappearance, the disappearance was tangential to the revocation.

But, The Fish, who loves a sexy headline, would have you think the judge got all agitated by the woman's disappearance, so he reflexively revoked bond.

...............................................................................

When you say bogus, we say attention, GRABBER! You said all of that to say that he didn't come in for that, but he did violate the restraining order, and despite the fact that his lawyer got him out of jail so he didn't have to serve the mandatory six months that he was originally given, he instead got the judge to sign off on an ankle monitor without reading the case notes. and he messed that up as well. SO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVOKED! As a result, she is now missing because him being let out previously . So I believe the title is rather accurate. BTW, keep all of those big words for when you have to explain why you messed up a case for a dollar.

#wherestasha

Anonymous said...

Despite your mumbo-jumbo, 3:44, bond was NOT revoked because she was missing. Bond was revoked because he violated the terms of his release into society.

I can't begin to understand the comment about 'a dollar'.

Anonymous said...

Despite what you’re saying 7:20 if it had not been for his wife going missing I’m sure that the courts wouldn’t have even been bothered by his delay in getting an ankle monitor. Due to the missing persons reports and news i believe only then it was brought to the courts attention. I pray that they find her safe and unharmed


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