Bond won’t be revoked in attempted murder, rape cases
An East Chicago man will not have his bond revoked even as he stands accused of attempted murder and rape in separate cases, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Darion R. Carter, 47, was out on bond in a September attempted murder charge when he was charged April 22 in an unrelated rape case.
Special Prosecutor Armando Salinas petitioned for Carter’s bond to be revoked, saying Tuesday he defied the court’s authority to stay out of trouble with the law and was a danger to the community. Salinas, who is a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from Porter County, was appointed to step in on Carter’s attempted murder case as Carter is a relative of Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. Bokota also granted a motion to appoint a special prosecutor in the rape case on May 3.
Darion Carter is charged with attempted murder, two counts each of criminal confinement; aggravated battery, robbery, battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, strangulation and kidnapping.
Carter is represented in both cases by defense lawyer Kerry Connor. He indicated in court records he may try to hire a private counsel.
Salinas noted Carter was also charged April 28 with misdemeanor criminal trespassing and possession of paraphernalia. Carter was hanging around an apartment where women mostly lived, he said.
Connor said it was “mere allegations” and the fact that Salinas didn’t present evidence during the hearing meant prosecutors didn’t meet the legal burden to pull his bond.
Carter was at the apartment building, because he had been staying there over several days, she said. Bokota denied Salinas’ request, saying the evidence was not sufficient.
Carter appeared in court in a striped jail jumpsuit. His bail will remain set at $10,000 cash in the rape case, Bokota said. Carter previously posted a nearly $10,000 bond on Feb. 14 in the attempted murder case, records show.
His next court hearing is July 12.
The woman told police she was at a friend’s house in East Chicago on April 21 when Carter started throwing rocks at the house. She told him the friend would be out shortly.
At 11:30 p.m., the woman left through the back door trying to avoid Carter. She felt a man grab her backpack from behind, throwing it on the ground, pinned her against the wall and raped her, charges state.
Carter was accused in September of attacking a family friend, allegedly stabbing, choking and preventing her from leaving his basement apartment for 12 hours, according to an affidavit.