Bond amount in burglary upsets official
Published 6:00 pm Sunday, September 26, 2010
A Brookhaven alderman whose home was burglarized earlier thismonth leveled criticism at a “penny-ante” bond amount that alloweda suspect in the case to be released from jail a few days after hisarrest.
Police Chief Pap Henderson said the 503 Furr Ave. home of Ward OneAlderman Dorsey Cameron was burglarized during the morning of Sept.16. He said police received a call reporting the incident at 12:28p.m. that day and found the back door had been smashed.
Following an investigation, which is continuing, Henderson saidTimothy Terrell Hudson, 19, of 219 Woods St., was arrested andcharged with burglary of an inhabited dwelling.
“We arrested him the same day,” Henderson said.
Lincoln County Jail records show Hudson was released on a $1,500bond on Sept. 21. The bond amount means Hudson was able to be freedafter paying $150, a fact that angered Cameron.
“It upset me to see that is what happened,” Cameron said.
Cameron targeted his criticism at Brookhaven Municipal Court JudgeRaymond Boutwell.
“The way I see it, he let him go,” Cameron said. “The bond didn’tfit the crime.”
Boutwell did not return a message seeking comment on the incidentFriday. Typically, judges are not allowed to comment on casesbefore them in court.
Cameron said the police had done their job in the case, but thesystem had failed. He indicated low bond amounts allow for a”revolving door” legal system.
“How many crimes have been committed by somebody out on bond?”Cameron asked.
In his case, Cameron believes the suspect broke in sometime between8 a.m. and noon. He said insurance would cover some of the variousitems taken, but some could not be covered.
“Some things you can’t replace … there’s sentimental value,” hesaid.