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Last updated on Friday, December 23, 2011
(MARTINSVILLE) - Richard Simmons, who allegedly held four police officers during a shootout in November, will be spending Christmas in jail.
Richard Simmons' attorney, John Young of Indianapolis, ran out of time Wednesday morning during a bond hearing in Morgan County Circuit Court. The hearing was also held for Simmons to hear the new charges the state has filed against him.
27-year old Simmons is facing six charges of attempted murder and one count of unlawful use of body armor as a result of the shootout with law enforcement officers at 3260 Centennial Road in Morgan County. He is also facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.
Young asked Judge Matthew Hanson for a formal reading of the charges and the possible penalties.
The bond reduction hearing had been requested by the defense, and the judge scheduled 15 minutes for it.
After reading the charges and penalties, Young asked the judge about reducing his client's bond. Simmons is being held on $1,000,000 property/surety and $100,000 case bond. The total amount Simmons or his family would have to pay would be around $200,000 to get him out of jail. The judge told Young the hearing was only set for 15 minutes and that he had about seven minutes left.
Hanson informed the attorney he would not keep his other cases waiting.
Young told the judge that under the county's bond schedule, his client's bond should only be around $375,000 property/surety and around $29,000 cash. Young said the amount of Simmons' bond was such that it was really a "no bond" because his family did not have the money to get him out.
Young called Simmons' father Rick to the stand to testify. The elder Simmons said if his son was released, he would live with him and his wife at their home in Fairland. He would make sure Richard was able to get to court.
After Rick Simmons testified, the judge ended the hearing because the lawyer was out of time. The hearing will continue on Feb. 1.
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