'Not fit to live in society' -- Decatur man held without bond after assault charge
Roderick Lafayette Reynolds, 47, is being charged with first degree domestic violence and trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids.
A few minutes before his hearing began Tuesday, Reynolds became irate in the courtroom and a bailiff tried to calm him down while Reynolds' brother sat in the audience and encouraged Reynolds to "control" himself.
District Judge Shelly Waters entered the courtroom and addressed Reynolds, who had his head in his hands, to wake up and go sit by his attorney, Russ Prickett.
The state called their first witness to the stand, Detective Michael Kent of the Decatur Police Department.
Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack asked Kent about the night of the alleged incident.
"The victim stated she was trying to take her trash out at 5 p.m. that afternoon and the defendant showed up at her residence," Kent said.
An affidavit signed by Kent said he arrived at the scene and observed that the glass of the back door of the victim's apartment was broken out.
The victim told Kent that Reynolds had arrived at her residence unexpectedly on Thursday afternoon and made her go with him to Lowe's, according to the affidavit. She said Reynolds then brought her back home, and as she climbed out of his vehicle, she told him not to come back but he replied that he would return.
"(The victim) reported Reynolds returned sometime later and made entry into her apartment through the back door," the affidavit said. "(The victim) claimed her and Reynolds 'fussed' and he physically assaulted her multiple times."
Reynolds then forced the victim to unlock her cellphone for him, according to the affidavit.
"(The victim) claimed that as she sat in an armchair within her living room, Reynolds produced a pistol and pressed it into her chest, telling her he was going to kill her," the affidavit said. "(The victim) claimed Reynolds also struck the top of her right hand with the pistol and pushed it against her face."
Reynolds' ex-girlfriend resided on property owned by Decatur Housing Authority, according to the affidavit, and he was ordered to stay off all property owned by the Housing Authority on Aug. 14, 2024, for a period of two years.
The affidavit said Kent noticed what he believed was a bruise on the victim's right hand and the victim claimed Reynolds intentionally pressed a lit cigarette against her left ring finger in retaliation for her not unlocking her cellphone.
"(The victim) stated further altercation ensued and Reynolds eventually pushed her into her bedroom and onto her bed," the affidavit said. "(The victim) stated she made a remark towards Reynolds regarding her having relations with a known acquaintance of his, which angered him and resulted with him striking (the victim) with a glass 200ML Absolut Vodka bottle on the head."
As Prickett began questioning Kent, Waters again chastised Reynolds for speaking out loud to the court.
Prickett called Reynolds' older brother and sister to the stand next and his brother described Reynolds and his relationship to the victim as "toxic."
"She's controlling and has to have control of the relationship," Reynolds' brother said. "She made the statement, 'If I can't have him, I'll have him locked up.'"
He and Reynolds' sister said the victim gave their mother synthetic marijuana in November, causing her to be admitted to the hospital.
"She said this wasn't about my mother or me, it was all about my brother," Reynolds' sister said. "I felt like she did that maliciously. She's put other men in jail because she can't have them."
Waters asked Reynolds' sister if Reynolds was aware of his mother going to the hospital and she said no because he was incarcerated at the time.
"Was it a burglary?" Schellack asked Reynolds' sister regarding why he was incarcerated.
"I don't know," his sister replied as Reynolds became agitated and motioned for his sister to stop talking.
Decatur police said they located Reynolds on Saturday at Studio 9 Motel. Police said Reynolds was located with Karen Myers, 41, at the motel and both were in possession of approximately 3.25 ounces of synthetic cannabinoids.
Myers was booked into the Morgan County Jail and held in lieu of a $5,000 bond for trafficking in synthetic cannabinoids, according to the Decatur Police Department.
Myers also testified on Tuesday and said she has been dating Reynolds since November. She said the victim has sent her multiple text messages trying to deter her from pursuing a relationship with Reynolds.
"She would say that I'm interfering in their relationship," Myers said. "Basically, she said if she couldn't have him, nobody could have him."
After the witnesses testified, Schellack said Reynolds did not deserve a bond because of his 10 prior felony convictions.
"Mr. Reynolds has quite an impressive criminal history here in Morgan County," Schellack said. "He was actually sentenced to a long term in prison for an assault case where he had shot someone and shot into an unoccupied vehicle during that crime. He was paroled, got out of prison and immediately committed a burglary and had his parole revoked.
"He finished out his sentence and was released in, I believe, 2022, and was re-arrested by February 2023 for burglary, criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools and he is out on bond for that as he sits here today."
Schellack said Reynolds faces life in prison because this most recent charge is his second Class A felony.
"Mr. Reynolds has demonstrated he is not fit to live in society," Schellack said. "Anytime he is out of custody, he commits new crimes."
Waters said she will hold Reynolds without bond and he will remain incarcerated until his jury trial begins.
— wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.
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