Stone Cold by Joel Goldman Page A

appointed to represent Mr. Reed.”
    “Mr. Reed was arrested over the weekend, Your Honor. I was made aware of his arrest but haven’t had a chance to prepare the necessary motion for my appointment. I recently represented him in another matter and my office is satisfied that he remains indigent. I ask that you appoint me to represent him.”
    “Any objection, Mr. Bradshaw?”
    “None.”
    “Very efficient of you, Counsel. So ordered.”
    “Thank you, Your Honor.”
    “The defendant is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, to wit, crack cocaine, a Class A felony.”
    “We’ll waive arraignment,” Alex said, “and enter a plea of not guilty and request that the defendant be released on his own recognizance.”
    Bradshaw shot to his feet. “The state objects!”
    “On what grounds?” Judge Upton asked.
    “The defendant is charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. That’s a Class A felony.”
    “I’m aware of that, Mr. Bradshaw. I just read the charges into the record. Were you listening?”
    Bradshaw bit his lip, a rising red tide creeping above his collar. “Of course I was, Your Honor.”
    “And, were you a regular visitor to my courtroom, you would know that I’m not opposed to releasing indigent defendants on their own recognizance if I’m satisfied that they will appear for trial since their indigent status makes it impossible for them to post a cash bail. Now, do you have something to tell me that I don’t already know that bears on that question?”
    “I do. For starters, Mr. Reed was charged with murder in another case.”
    “What was the outcome of that case?”
    “He was acquitted.”
    “Since when is an acquittal in one case grounds for imposing bail in another unrelated case?”
    Alex watched them, swiveling her head back and forth like they were exchanging overhead slams at center court.
    “It’s not, but it’s relevant to the reasons not only why the defendant shouldn’t be released on his own recognizance but why he shouldn’t be granted bail in the first place. The defendant is a person of interest in the murder over the weekend of Jameer Henderson and his family. I’m sure you saw the reports on the news. Mr. Henderson testified against the defendant in his murder trial. The defendant is also a person of interest in the murder of Kyrie Chapman. Mr. Henderson testified that Mr. Chapman had coerced him into testifying against the defendant. When Henry Rossi, a senior homicide detective, sought to question the defendant regarding these slayings, the defendant ran away. Fortunately, Detective Rossi was able to apprehend him. The defendant was injured while evading arrest. Paramedics had to cut away his jeans and turned them over to the police, who found the drugs in one of the pockets.”
    Judge Upton turned to Alex. “Ms. Stone?”
    “Mr. Reed had a very good reason to run away from Detective Rossi. The day he was acquitted, Detective Rossi arrested him on a bogus murder charge involving a cold case with which Mr. Reed had no connection. Detective Rossi was angry about the acquittal. The arrest was harassment, plain and simple. When I intervened, Detective Rossi released my client. Mr. Reed was at his mother’s house when Detective Rossi forced his way inside without a warrant and without disclosing the reason for his visit. If I had been in Mr. Reed’s shoes, I would have run as well. Mr. Reed has no felony criminal record. The only prior offense for which he was convicted was a misdemeanor for being drunk and disorderly. His family is here. His roots are here. He is not a flight risk. Neither the police nor the prosecutor has come forward with any evidence linking Mr. Reed to these murders or they would have arrested him for that instead of for finding crack in his jeans. Ordering him held without bail or setting bail at a level he cannot possibly make based on a claim that he is a person of interest in these