The $400,000 bond set Monday for a 17-year-old boy facing murder charges is excessive, his attorney argued during the teen’s arraignment.
Matthew Smith, who was certified to be tried as an adult, was arraigned in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on charges of aggravated murder, murder, and four counts of felonious assault. Each charge also carries a gun specification and firearm discharge specification.
Earlier this month, the Smith youth and two co-defendants were indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on the charges relating to the Thanksgiving shooting of 3-year-old Malachi Barnes as his father, Anthony Barnes, was driving with his children from a Thanksgiving gathering.
A juvenile court judge previously set bond at $250,000 for a complicity to murder offense. Prosecutors on Monday asked Judge Gary Cook to set bond at $700,000 with the additional charges. The youth’s defense attorney, Kiana Franulic, argued her client is not a flight risk. She added he hopes to continue his education outside of the juvenile detention center, has a supportive family, and wants access to see his newborn daughter, who was born the same day he was arrested.
Judge Cook set bond at $400,000.
“I think the bond is totally excessive for a juvenile who went in willingly to make a statement. The indictment added additional charges, which I don’t think were necessary to be added — he was originally charged with complicity. There’s no flight risk. I don’t see any reason for a $400,000 bond for a 17-year-old,” Ms. Franulic said.
Her client has no criminal record and did not get to meet his child prior to being arrested, she added.
“She was born that day. He actually went in just to make a willful statement, had no idea he was going to be arrested. He was just trying to be helpful.”
Prosecutors say the Smith youth, Andre J. White, 20, of Detroit; and K’veon C. Giles, 18, of the 3500 block of Willys Parkway, had information Mr. Barnes’ family was at America’s Best Value Inn & Suites on Oregon Road.
The three were targeting a specific member of Mr. Barnes’ family and believed that person got into a vehicle with Mr. Barnes. They followed Mr. Barnes’ vehicle from Oregon Road to Miami Street to northbound I-75, before shots were fired at Mr. Barnes’ vehicle, peppering it with bullets, prosecutors said.
The targeted person, however, was not in the car. Instead, the 3-year-old boy was fatally shot.
White is in custody in Detroit and a warrant has been issued for Mr. Giles’ arrest. Each are also charged with aggravated murder, murder, and four counts of felonious assault.
The Smith youth is being held at the juvenile detention center. He will appear in court April 1.
First Published February 25, 2019, 4:26 p.m.
