By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
CENTREVILLE — A bond request for a woman accused of killing her 2-year-old child was denied by a judge Monday.
St. Joseph County 45th Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman denied a bond motion for Paige Nichole Bohne in a bond hearing Monday morning. In his ruling, Stutesman cited the charge of open murder against the 21-year-old and some of the alleged circumstances of the case, saying bond can be denied for that circumstance.
“A person who is indicted for or arraigned on a warrant charging murder or treason may have bond denied,” Stutesman said. “It’s a very serious crime, it’s a murder crime; there’s no presumption of bond in these cases.”
Bohne is charged with open murder in the death of her 2-year-old child, who was found unresponsive at a residence at the Memory Lane Mobile Home Park in the 25000 block of U.S. 12 in Sturgis Township on Nov. 7. She was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were upgraded during arraignment.
Bond was initially denied at the District Court level back in November, prior to Bohne waiving her preliminary hearing, with the bond form citing Bohne being a “danger to the community” and for “failure to appear.” Stutesman questioned the latter reasoning, with assistant prosecutor and Prosecutor-elect Deborah Davis explaining that her understanding was the reasoning for “failure to appear” was due to the “nature of the case” and a concern that Bohne may be a risk for failing to appear if let go on bond, not that she has failed to appear in the past.
Bohne’s lawyer, Jordan Harden, had argued for bond given Bohne’s lack of adult criminal history and claimed Bohne would not be a flight risk. Davis had argued for a “suitable bond” without a “10 percent” option, and if she was released on bond, there would be certain conditions, including not being allowed to speak with certain people and being required to wear a tether.
Additionally, both the defense and prosecution agreed during the hearing to adjourn Bohne’s trial for now until more evidence is received. The trial was scheduled to begin on Jan. 14, however Davis said there is still evidence – such as a review of phone data for both Bohne’s phone and the phone of who Davis identified as Bohne’s “significant other,” the child’s autopsy report, and toxicology reports for both the child and Bohne – that needs to be sent, completed and evaluated before the trial can begin. Davis expected that will not occur within the statutory 90 days after bond denial.
Because of the likelihood the trial will not commence within that 90-day period due in part to the evidence delays, according to Stutesman another bond motion hearing will most likely be scheduled in the future. More information and relevant material to help set a potential amount, Stutesman said in a follow-up email Monday, is likely to be presented during such a hearing.
No further dates were set in the case.
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
