By Staff
Drug and theft suspect Mike Haveard – who has been in jail on $8 million bond since March 3 – will have his bond reduced, but he will have to wait until Friday to find out by how much.
After seven hours of testimony over two days, Judge Bert Rice said late Thursday that he would grant the defense motion to reduce the bond. But Rice said he wanted to study the issue before setting an amount.
Haveard's initial bond, which was recommended by the grand jury that indicted him, was a cash bond – meaning he would have to pay the full amount. Rice said he had the authority to reduce it or change it to a property bond if he saw fit.
Haveard is charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, four counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and four counts of criminal solicitation to commit first-degree theft of property.
During testimony Thursday, two witnesses testified that they used bad checks to buy building materials and tools that Haveard then bought and used in his rental properties.
Wayne Crutchfield said Haveard loaned him money to start his checking account, and that he believed Haveard knew the materials were purchased with bad checks. Crutchfield testified that Haveard paid him in cash and OxyContin pills for the materials.
Bobby Haynes testified that he had also bought building materials with bad checks and sold them to Haveard. Haynes said he did not know whether Haveard knew the materials were stolen.
Family and friends testified on Wednesday that they do not believe Haveard is a flight risk, and his attorney Danny White noted in his closing argument Thursday that the $8 million bond is significantly higher than the $12,000 to $120,000 recommended by statutes for the charges. White asked the judge to set the bond around $50,000.
For updates on this story, see www.brewtonstandard.com and Sunday's edition of The Brewton Standard.