Court Opinion

ID: 9678994
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:37:56.939454+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:09.422027
License: Public Domain

John A. Fogleman, Justice, concurring. In concurring, I disagree with only one particular of the majority opinion. I cannot agree that the circuit court did not conduct an adequate pretrial release inquiry. The circuit judge specifically found, and held, that only money bail would insure appellant’s appearance, set the bail at $5,000 and declined to allow the payment of ten percent of the face amount of the bail into court, prescribing that bail be in the form of either a surety or property bond. The trial judge specifically stated that he did not feel that this was the proper case for a cash deposit of ten percent of the bail. It appears that the circuit judge did take into consideration relevant factors and made certain findings in that regard. He also found, as a basis for requiring money bail, that there was a probability of conviction and a substantial sentence of imprisonment, remarking that juries deal harshly with the offense with which appellant was charged. I do not believe that this requirement made by the circuit court mandated jail or forfeiture of a bail bondsman’s fee. One as reliable as appellant is represented to be would likely be able to make a “property bond” without risking the fee.