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Suspects’ bond reduction enrages victim’s family
If they’re released, the defendants must be on house arrest, judge rules.
YOUNGSTOWN — Members of Billy O. McGeorge’s family expressed displeasure outside the courtroom after a judge reduced the bonds of three men charged in his death from $500,000 to $100,000.
On Monday, Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, reduced the bonds for Gerald Hardaway, 27, of Ridge Avenue; Dionne Dawson, 26, and his brother, Dewon Dawson, 25, both of West Myrtle Avenue.
All three defendants await trial after having pleaded innocent to a murder charge with a firearm specification.
“It’s a murder trial, and I don’t think it’s fair for them to get out,” said McGeorge’s cousin, Taneysha Johnson of Youngstown.
Johnson said an eyewitness, who has made a statement to police, has been threatened and beaten en route to school. “He fears for his life,” she said of the witness.
“This should not have happened. ...This is giving them the opportunity to spend more time with their families when Billy cannot spend time with his family. ... It’s just very unfortunate,” said Stacey Prest of Youngstown, mother of McGeorge’s 9-year-old son, Billy McGeorge Jr.
“I really don’t think it’s fair,” the victim’s mother, LaRita Johnson of Youngstown, said of the judge’s decision.
Offering no explanation in court, the judge reduced the bonds at the request of the defense lawyers, but she insisted that the defendants must go on, and pay for, electronically monitored house arrest if they’re released from jail, and that the Dawsons must live separately. All three defendants remained jailed late Monday.
A spokeswoman for Judge Sweeney said the judge doesn’t comment outside of court on cases before her.
McGeorge, 32, whose last known address was on Parkwood Avenue, was found shot to death in a driveway in the 400 block of West Marion Avenue about 12:25 a.m. Nov. 12. A man who lives nearby heard three shots. Police said the motive for the shooting was an ongoing feud.
In a motion requesting the bond reduction, Atty. David J. Betras said his client, Dewon Dawson, is a lifelong area resident with no felony convictions who “has extensive ties to the community, including, but not limited to, family and employment.”
Atty. Heidi Hanni said her client, Dionne Dawson, is employed and has no convictions for anything besides a traffic offense. “He poses no flight risk. He poses no threat,” Hanni said. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, she added.
Hardaway has no felony convictions, according to his lawyer, Terry Grenga.
Meghan L. Brundege, assistant county prosecutor, said, however, the defendants are flight risks. Citing the seriousness of the charge, Brundege successfully had urged Magistrate Dennis Sarisky to set a $500,000 bond for the three defendants at their December arraignment.
If convicted, the suspects, who were secretly indicted and arrested in December, each face 15 years to life in prison for the murder, plus three consecutive years for the gun specification.
milliken@vindy.com