Post by CCADP on Aug 13, 2005 20:51:10 GMT -5
WIFE JAILED FOR CONTACTING DEFENDANT WARREN
The wife of a capital murder defendant was ordered jailed Friday after a
judge revoked her bond for having contact with her husband, Jamarcus
Warren.
Lakeshia Jones, 26, pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to hindering Warren's
apprehension and was released on a personal recognizance bond because of
her ailing mother and her agreement to testify against Warren in his death
penalty case.
Prosecutors played a taped telephone conversation that Ms. Jones had with
Warren about 2 hours after she was released. As part of her bond
conditions, she was ordered to have no contact with Warren directly, by
phone, letter, a 3rd party or any other means.
Judge Jack Skeen Jr., of the 241st District Court, revoked her bond Friday
and ordered she be jailed on a $150,000 surety bond.
Warren, 28, made a collect call, which she accepted, to Ms. Jones' home.
During the 15-minute conversation, Ms. Jones referred to her court
proceeding earlier that day.
The couple, often crying throughout the conversation, talked of the hard
times they were in and how much they loved each other.
"We're all we got," Ms. Jones said, adding that "it's going to be hard."
She encouraged Warren to be focused and ready and to stay positive.
Warren said he talked to no one but her and didn't have anyone else. He is
held in an isolated cell in the Smith County jail awaiting his capital
murder case set for Oct. 3.
"I just need some time to be with my mother. If it wasn't for that, it
wouldn't matter," Ms. Jones told Warren, referring to her mother who
apparently has terminal cancer.
"You're like my wife; I love you," a crying Warren said. "I understand
what you did (pleading guilty) ... As for me, I can't see my life without
you."
He said he had been jailed for 11 months but had been with Ms. Jones for
28 years, adding that he hated not being able to talk to her.
Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham requested Ms. Jones' bond be
revoked because of her contact with the capital murder defendant whom
Bingham is seeking the death penalty against. He said as part of the plea
agreement, Ms. Jones expressed her intent to testify against Warren
truthfully. Bingham asked the judge to set her new bond at $150,000.
Defense attorney Hunter Brush asked Skeen to let her remain out of jail
and amend the conditions of her bond, allowing her to have contact with
Warren.
He said there appeared to be no justification for the imposition of
prohibiting the young wife from talking to her husband. He said there was
no content in the conversation that could undermine or adversely affect
Warren's prosecution.
Brush said the phone call was "one of the most heartbreaking things" he's
listened to in court.
"There was no harm done," he said, adding that she spent a lot of time in
jail before she was granted the PR bond.
Skeen said the woman was initially arrested on $250,000 bond and was later
released on a PR bond with conditions of release. Her bond was revoked
that time for drug violations.
But after she pleaded guilty to hindering the apprehension of a felon, she
was again released on a PR bond pending her sentencing hearing, which will
take place after she testifies in Warren's trial.
Skeen said she not only violated her conditions he expected her to abide
by, she did it only a few hours after her release.
"This court expects its conditions of bond set to be abided by," he said.
"I believe this court had done everything possible to be fair."
Ms. Jones was arrested by U.S. marshals Dec. 17 in Houston along with
Warren, who had been on the lam for about 7 months. He awaits trial for
the capital murder of Shaun Pickens, who was shot to death in January
2004.
Officials have said they believe Warren was on his way to Mexico when
caught.
Pickens, of New Chapel Hill, was found gunned down in the driveway of a
Smith County home off County Road 2209.
(source: Tyler Morning Telegraph)
The wife of a capital murder defendant was ordered jailed Friday after a
judge revoked her bond for having contact with her husband, Jamarcus
Warren.
Lakeshia Jones, 26, pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to hindering Warren's
apprehension and was released on a personal recognizance bond because of
her ailing mother and her agreement to testify against Warren in his death
penalty case.
Prosecutors played a taped telephone conversation that Ms. Jones had with
Warren about 2 hours after she was released. As part of her bond
conditions, she was ordered to have no contact with Warren directly, by
phone, letter, a 3rd party or any other means.
Judge Jack Skeen Jr., of the 241st District Court, revoked her bond Friday
and ordered she be jailed on a $150,000 surety bond.
Warren, 28, made a collect call, which she accepted, to Ms. Jones' home.
During the 15-minute conversation, Ms. Jones referred to her court
proceeding earlier that day.
The couple, often crying throughout the conversation, talked of the hard
times they were in and how much they loved each other.
"We're all we got," Ms. Jones said, adding that "it's going to be hard."
She encouraged Warren to be focused and ready and to stay positive.
Warren said he talked to no one but her and didn't have anyone else. He is
held in an isolated cell in the Smith County jail awaiting his capital
murder case set for Oct. 3.
"I just need some time to be with my mother. If it wasn't for that, it
wouldn't matter," Ms. Jones told Warren, referring to her mother who
apparently has terminal cancer.
"You're like my wife; I love you," a crying Warren said. "I understand
what you did (pleading guilty) ... As for me, I can't see my life without
you."
He said he had been jailed for 11 months but had been with Ms. Jones for
28 years, adding that he hated not being able to talk to her.
Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham requested Ms. Jones' bond be
revoked because of her contact with the capital murder defendant whom
Bingham is seeking the death penalty against. He said as part of the plea
agreement, Ms. Jones expressed her intent to testify against Warren
truthfully. Bingham asked the judge to set her new bond at $150,000.
Defense attorney Hunter Brush asked Skeen to let her remain out of jail
and amend the conditions of her bond, allowing her to have contact with
Warren.
He said there appeared to be no justification for the imposition of
prohibiting the young wife from talking to her husband. He said there was
no content in the conversation that could undermine or adversely affect
Warren's prosecution.
Brush said the phone call was "one of the most heartbreaking things" he's
listened to in court.
"There was no harm done," he said, adding that she spent a lot of time in
jail before she was granted the PR bond.
Skeen said the woman was initially arrested on $250,000 bond and was later
released on a PR bond with conditions of release. Her bond was revoked
that time for drug violations.
But after she pleaded guilty to hindering the apprehension of a felon, she
was again released on a PR bond pending her sentencing hearing, which will
take place after she testifies in Warren's trial.
Skeen said she not only violated her conditions he expected her to abide
by, she did it only a few hours after her release.
"This court expects its conditions of bond set to be abided by," he said.
"I believe this court had done everything possible to be fair."
Ms. Jones was arrested by U.S. marshals Dec. 17 in Houston along with
Warren, who had been on the lam for about 7 months. He awaits trial for
the capital murder of Shaun Pickens, who was shot to death in January
2004.
Officials have said they believe Warren was on his way to Mexico when
caught.
Pickens, of New Chapel Hill, was found gunned down in the driveway of a
Smith County home off County Road 2209.
(source: Tyler Morning Telegraph)