A De Queen, Ark., man whose past includes convictions for drug crimes and sex offenses was denied bond Thursday morning by a federal judge in Texarkana.
Randy Terrell Hayes, 31, appeared with Texarkana lawyer Craig Henry before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant for a detention hearing in Texarkana's downtown federal building. Hayes has been in custody since last summer when a federal complaint was filed in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas, accusing Hayes of distributing methamphetamine in the De Queen area.
An eight-count indictment was handed down for Hayes by a federal grand jury in September. The indictment accuses Hayes of selling meth to an undercover operative May 16, 2017; May 30, 2017; June 1, 2017; June 5, 2017; June 6, 2017; June 8, 2017; June 15, 2017, and June 27, 2017.
At the time of his arrest last year, Henry waived the issue of detention on Hayes' behalf. Hayes recently asked that a detention hearing be held to determine if he can be freed while his case proceeds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Taylor told Bryant at Thursday's hearing that the government opposes Hayes' release. Taylor said the government's evidence against Taylor is strong and includes lab analyses of the drugs Hayes allegedly sold an undercover source as well as audio and video recordings of the alleged transactions.
Taylor pointed out that Hayes has been convicted of multiple felonies, including drug offenses, second-degree sexual assault and failure to register as a sex offender. Taylor said Hayes was on parole at the time he was allegedly selling meth.
Henry asked that Hayes be permitted to live with his mother in De Queen. Hayes' mother testified that she will contact authorities if Hayes fails to comply with court-ordered conditions.
Bryant ruled that Hayes should remain in custody while his case moves forward. Bryant told Hayes that the charges facing him carry a presumption under the law that a defendant will be detained because of the risk the alleged conduct poses to the community. Bryant noted the weight of the evidence the government possesses against Hayes appears to be strong and commented on Hayes' history of being arrested for new crimes while free on probation and parole.
Hayes' case is scheduled for trial Aug. 20 before U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes.