Reduced bond denied for suspect in capital murder
Tristen D. Waller, a suspect in the June 5,
2019 shooting death of 27-year-old Brandon
Parker, was denied modified bond in a
February 23 hearing in the Union County
Circuit Court, Fourth
Division.
The request came from Waller’s attorney Keidra Brewer, who was standing in during the hearing for Waller’s main attorney S.L. Smith.
Judge Robin Carroll was presiding.
Brewer reiterated a request made by
Waller’s attorneys to reduce Waller’s bond to $75,000 or less or to implement a signature bond.
“I can’t have a jury trial by order of the Supreme Court. Mr. Waller is welcome to a bench trial if he wants one, but we’re probably not even close to a jury trial any time soon,” Carroll said in response to the request.
Carroll then denied the request.
Waller has previously argued that continuance orders violate his right to a speedy trial, both in letters to Judge Carroll as well as through attempts at bond modification.
Court records indicate that a motion for release or bond reduction was initially filed by Smith on Waller’s behalf in August 2020.
The Supreme Court of Arkansas has extended the suspension of jury trials due to COVID-19 on several occasions. The most recent extension, on Friday, Feb. 12, suspended jury trials until May 1, 2021.
The latest per curiam order states that “the Supreme Court of Arkansas is encouraged by the recent downward trend in COVID-19 infections in the state and by the increase in vaccinations. Going forward, we will continue to monitor these trends with the anticipation that, if positive progress continues, jury trials may resume
May 1, 2021. We therefore recommend that circuit court judges, circuit court clerks, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, and private attorneys take the next few weeks to prepare for the resumption of jury trials.”
Waller was initially arrested in June 2019 and charged with capital murder and attempted capital murder along with firearm enhancements in relation to the shooting death of Brandon Parker, 27, and the shooting of Randy Miller. A second suspect, Chancin Hooks, was also arrested and charged with capital murder and attempted capital murder, both with firearm enhancements.
The next Union County Circuit Court Fourth Division docket is currently scheduled for March 16.