Judge ponders lowering bond

Attorney: $1 million bail out of reach for murder defendant

Tyvon Montrel Gullatt
Tyvon Montrel Gullatt

NEW BOSTON, Texas-A Bowie County district judge is taking a murder defendant's request to reduce his $1 million bail under advisement.

Tyvon Montrel Gullatt, 23, is accused of fatally shooting Carlos Clark, 25, in the parking lot of a Texarkana, Texas, gas station Feb. 10. Last week Gullatt entered a plea of not guilty to murder and his lawyer, Jasmine Crockett of Texarkana, asked the court to lower Gullatt's bond.

A hearing to address the bond reduction motion was held Monday afternoon at the Bowie County Courthouse in New Boston before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. Under questioning from Crockett, Gullatt's grandfather, Richard Sanders, testified that Gullatt lives with him and his wife of more than 40 years in Texarkana, Texas.

Sanders testified that he cannot post Gullatt's $1 million bail, which would mean a $100,000 payment to a commercial bondsman, but that he might be able to post bond on a $100,000 bail, which would require a $10,000 payment. Sanders said he is willing to help Gullatt pay the fee associated with a GPS leg monitor and ensure that Gullatt attends court appearances.

Gullatt was arrested at his grandfather's home after the shooting without incident. Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp asked Sanders if he was aware that his grandson was keeping the loaded pistol he allegedly used to shoot Clark in his home.

Crisp called Investigator Aaron Ragland of the Bowie County District Attorney's Office to give testimony about Gullatt's prior criminal conduct. Ragland said Gullatt has two misdemeanor convictions, one for theft and another for possession of a controlled substance.

Ragland said that an arrest in 2014 of Gullatt for aggravated robbery did not result in a conviction. Ragland said the alleged victims in the robbery case reported that they "were being paid by Mr. Gullatt's family to drop the charges."

Crockett asked Ragland if any members of Gullatt's family were charged with witness tampering as a result. Ragland said he is not aware of any such charges being filed.

Crockett argued that Gullatt has strong ties to Bowie County and is not a flight risk. She asked Lockhart to consider that Gullatt has required emergency medical treatment while in jail for high blood pressure, which has caused fainting and swollen legs.

Crisp argued that Gullatt's existing $1 million bail is appropriate given the charge facing him. Crisp said the case is "not a who-done-it" because Gullatt allegedly confessed to investigators to his role in a "drug deal gone bad."

Lockhart said he is taking arguments from both the prosecution and defense under advisement before deciding whether to lower Gullatt's bail or in the event he does determine a reduction is in order, to what amount. A decision from the court on Gullatt's bail is expected this week.

Gullatt faces five to 99 years or life in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to appear before Lockhart for a pretrial hearing next month.

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