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©2007 MarvelHaiti.com. All Rights Reserved.
Shaping the Perception of Haiti
By BILL RANKIN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/19/07
Rapper T.I. will remain in jail on weapons charges for at least another week, after a federal judge on Friday denied any immediate
release on bond.
Published on: 10/19/07
Rapper T.I. will remain in jail on weapons charges for at least another week, after a federal judge on Friday denied any immediate
release on bond.
"I haven't decided on releasing him yet," Baverman said, "I just haven't heard
the conditions yet and I'm not satisfied."
with an entire "package" of conditions that assure that T.I., whose real name is
Clifford Harris Jr., will not flee or pose a danger to others.
The judge also told Harris's defense attorneys he does not have time to
monitor Harris. "I'm not going to get involved in essentially being the warden for
Mr. Harris," Baverman said.
Harris also was arraigned at the hearing, and he entered a plea of not guilty to
the weapons charges.
After Harris entered his plea, assistant U.S. Attorney Francey Hakes disclosed
that the case is part of "an ongoing investigation" and indicated more charges
may be coming. Harris's trial would take less than a week, Hakes said, "as the
indictment stands now."
Lawyers for Harris proposed that he be released on a $2.2 million bond, which
included separate bonds backed by his record company, record company
executives. Harris also agreed to post the equity of his two homes, which his
lawyer, Ed Garland, estimated are worth about $1.5 million.
the conditions yet and I'm not satisfied."
with an entire "package" of conditions that assure that T.I., whose real name is
Clifford Harris Jr., will not flee or pose a danger to others.
The judge also told Harris's defense attorneys he does not have time to
monitor Harris. "I'm not going to get involved in essentially being the warden for
Mr. Harris," Baverman said.
Harris also was arraigned at the hearing, and he entered a plea of not guilty to
the weapons charges.
After Harris entered his plea, assistant U.S. Attorney Francey Hakes disclosed
that the case is part of "an ongoing investigation" and indicated more charges
may be coming. Harris's trial would take less than a week, Hakes said, "as the
indictment stands now."
Lawyers for Harris proposed that he be released on a $2.2 million bond, which
included separate bonds backed by his record company, record company
executives. Harris also agreed to post the equity of his two homes, which his
lawyer, Ed Garland, estimated are worth about $1.5 million.
Garland also said Harris would agree to stay in his home with 24-hour-a-day electronic and human monitoring.
But Baverman said he wants more information about who will be chosen as Harris's monitor, who would live inside Harris's
home and how they would search visitors and alert authorities if Harris violated any conditions. The judge said he wants to
consider a list of companies that do such monitoring and hear details about them.
Baverman also set these tentative conditions if he does grant bond: Harris must must post a $2 million cash bond plus the equity
in all properties he owns. He must be locked down in his house 24/7; have an electronic monitoring device; consent to any
searches; be screened for unlawful drug use; remove any safes in the home; and be allowed to live with only his girlfriend and
children.
But Baverman said he wants more information about who will be chosen as Harris's monitor, who would live inside Harris's
home and how they would search visitors and alert authorities if Harris violated any conditions. The judge said he wants to
consider a list of companies that do such monitoring and hear details about them.
Baverman also set these tentative conditions if he does grant bond: Harris must must post a $2 million cash bond plus the equity
in all properties he owns. He must be locked down in his house 24/7; have an electronic monitoring device; consent to any
searches; be screened for unlawful drug use; remove any safes in the home; and be allowed to live with only his girlfriend and
children.
Harris, already a convicted felon, was arrested Saturday on weapons
charges in a sting at a Midtown parking lot, where he allegedly sought to
buy machine guns. The arrest kept him from appearing as planned at the
BET Awards show that night.
Prosecutors oppose bond for Harris, although assistant U.S. Attorney
Todd Alley told Baverman it is a "close call" as to whether the conditions
were acceptable.
Alley recounted a litany of arrests, convictions and missed court dates by
Harris from 1997 through the end of 2003. These include firearms and
drug violations as well as Harris giving authorities false names at the
time of his arrest.
Alley noted that during a search of Harris's home in 2003, local authorities
and federal agents found a firearm, a silencer and a bulletproof vest in
Harris's master bedroom. One of Harris's lawyers, Dwight Thomas, later
noted that this case had been dismissed.
charges in a sting at a Midtown parking lot, where he allegedly sought to
buy machine guns. The arrest kept him from appearing as planned at the
BET Awards show that night.
Prosecutors oppose bond for Harris, although assistant U.S. Attorney
Todd Alley told Baverman it is a "close call" as to whether the conditions
were acceptable.
Alley recounted a litany of arrests, convictions and missed court dates by
Harris from 1997 through the end of 2003. These include firearms and
drug violations as well as Harris giving authorities false names at the
time of his arrest.
Alley noted that during a search of Harris's home in 2003, local authorities
and federal agents found a firearm, a silencer and a bulletproof vest in
Harris's master bedroom. One of Harris's lawyers, Dwight Thomas, later
noted that this case had been dismissed.
Also at Friday's hearing, Alley revealed that Harris had up to a half-pound of marijuana in his vehicle when arrested last Saturday.
At this arrest, agents also found three handguns, at least one of them loaded, inside Harris's vehicle, Alley said.
"He told agents the marijuana was his and he had smoked marijuana that day to get ready for the BET Awards show," Alley said.
Baverman said he was distressed to learn that Harris told a pre-trial services officer in an interview a few days later that he had
not smoked marijuana in more than a year.
Baverman said he was impressed with information provided by Harris's lawyers that showed the rapper has been "exceptionally
generous and has reached out to the community, particularly the community of the underprivileged, with great generosity."
On the other hand, Baverman added, "on the day that is probably the most important of his professional career he shows up
armed at a gun deal to buy machine guns and silencers. I'm really, really concerned about that sort of dichotomy."
As Baverman outlined his concerns, Hariris, wearing a black suit and white shirt, sat expressionless with his eyes on the judge.
When members of Harris's family were asked to stand up in the packed courtroom, about 50 people rose to their feet.
Baverman called Harris "an exceptionally gifted and talented musician" and noted that many people in his position would not do
as much for the community, including local students.
"He should be commended for that," Baverman said. "But I would be blind not to recogize some of the lyrics in some of the songs
that stand in contrast to the message he gives to schoolchildren."
Baverman, a former defense attorney, found that the prosecutors had not met their burden of convincing him that no possible
conditions could be place on Harris to assure he would not be a flight risk or danger to others. For this reason, the judge said, he
is willing to consider the extraordinary conditions proposed by Harris's legal team.
But Baverman said he found Harris's past conduct "exceptionally troublesome" and he said he considered the strength of the
government's case against Harris to be "significant."
Source: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/10/19/ticourt_1019.html
At this arrest, agents also found three handguns, at least one of them loaded, inside Harris's vehicle, Alley said.
"He told agents the marijuana was his and he had smoked marijuana that day to get ready for the BET Awards show," Alley said.
Baverman said he was distressed to learn that Harris told a pre-trial services officer in an interview a few days later that he had
not smoked marijuana in more than a year.
Baverman said he was impressed with information provided by Harris's lawyers that showed the rapper has been "exceptionally
generous and has reached out to the community, particularly the community of the underprivileged, with great generosity."
On the other hand, Baverman added, "on the day that is probably the most important of his professional career he shows up
armed at a gun deal to buy machine guns and silencers. I'm really, really concerned about that sort of dichotomy."
As Baverman outlined his concerns, Hariris, wearing a black suit and white shirt, sat expressionless with his eyes on the judge.
When members of Harris's family were asked to stand up in the packed courtroom, about 50 people rose to their feet.
Baverman called Harris "an exceptionally gifted and talented musician" and noted that many people in his position would not do
as much for the community, including local students.
"He should be commended for that," Baverman said. "But I would be blind not to recogize some of the lyrics in some of the songs
that stand in contrast to the message he gives to schoolchildren."
Baverman, a former defense attorney, found that the prosecutors had not met their burden of convincing him that no possible
conditions could be place on Harris to assure he would not be a flight risk or danger to others. For this reason, the judge said, he
is willing to consider the extraordinary conditions proposed by Harris's legal team.
But Baverman said he found Harris's past conduct "exceptionally troublesome" and he said he considered the strength of the
government's case against Harris to be "significant."
Source: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/10/19/ticourt_1019.html
