Albertville student denied bond for alleged robbery, bringing stolen gun to school
A 16-year-old Albertville High School student, Djovani Jean-Pierre, has been denied bond by Marshall County District Court Judge Mitch Floyd after being accused of bringing a loaded gun to school. During a hearing held on September 27, it was determined that Jean-Pierre would remain in custody while facing serious felony charges, including first-degree robbery and second-degree assault, which could lead to a prison sentence of up to life if convicted. The hearing was conducted under Aniah’s Law, legislation that allows judges to deny bail for certain serious offenses following the murder of Aniah Blanchard in 2019 by a suspect out on bond for another crime.
Defense attorney Richard Rice argued for Jean-Pierre’s release, citing his age, clean criminal record, and questioning the evidence’s validity. He also claimed that his client was being unfairly targeted due to his Haitian descent. In contrast, Marshall County District Attorney Jennifer Bray asserted that race was irrelevant, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations and the potential danger Jean-Pierre posed to the community. The court heard testimony indicating that Jean-Pierre had stolen the firearm from someone at a party before bringing it to school, where he allegedly struggled with police who attempted to arrest him, resulting in minor injuries for an officer.
Jean-Pierre, who is being tried as an adult, has a preliminary hearing set for November 6. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Read the complete article here: https://1819news.com/news/item/albertville-student-denied-bond-for-alleged-robbery-bringing-stolen-gun-to-school
