43
Bond reduced for murder suspect
The judge called the suspect’s $1 million bond excessive.
YOUNGSTOWN — The bond for an Austintown man charged in the fatal shooting of a soldier has been reduced from $1 million to $250,000.
In a Friday hearing, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court reduced the bond of Donnie R. Reed, 49, of Burkey Road, calling the $1 million bond set in Austintown court, where the case originated, “excessive.”
“A $1 million bond, a $750,000 bond, is unreasonable. It’s unconstitutional. It’s a bunch of baloney,” Judge Krichbaum said.
Reed is charged with murder in the April 4 death of Army Pvt. Randy Davis, 22, of Boardman and Youngstown, who suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead from a World War II-era .45-caliber handgun in Reed’s residence.
Davis asked Reed if he had any guns; Reed led Davis to a bedroom; and witnesses heard a gunshot, witnesses testified at a preliminary hearing.
Reed’s lawyer, Joseph Gardner, said the gun may have discharged accidentally, that Reed is employed and has resided in this area for about 20 years, and that he is not likely to flee if released on bond. Reed has no criminal convictions.
Gardner, who made the motion to reduce the bond, said his client’s family could likely afford a $50,000 bond for him, but Judge Krichbaum said he wouldn’t consider less than a $100,000 bond in a case where a defendant is charged with murder.
Citing Reed’s alleged bragging to his friends about other crimes he committed, Kenneth Cardinal, assistant county prosecutor, said he opposed reduction of Reed’s bond.
Detective Douglas Scharsu of the Austintown Police Department testified that he has taken statements from people present when Davis was shot, who said Reed was nicknamed “Hitman.” The detective said he took statements from people who heard Reed brag to them that he had bombed cars in Atlanta and that he had an associate that would pay him to kill people.
Just before he set the new $250,000 bond, Judge Krichbaum said Reed’s bragging is cause for concern, but he’d likely question the truth of what Reed allegedly said.
Conflicting statements have been made about the events of April 4.
Davis’ brother, Ron, said Reed announced after the gun discharged that he had shot Davis and asked his friends to call the police.
Reed initially told police he handed Randy Davis the gun, turned away and heard gunfire, but authorities said gunshot residue tests show Reed, not Randy Davis, fired the gun.
Witnesses said there was no known animosity between Reed and Randy Davis and the men hadn’t argued that night.