ATLANTA — A Georgia choose on Thursday denied bond — once more — for Atlanta rapper Younger Thug, one in every of almost 30 individuals charged in a 65-count indictment alleging he’s the chief of a felony avenue gang.
Superior Courtroom Decide Ural Glanville heard a slew of excellent motions within the case towards the musician, whose actual title is Jeffery Williams. Rapper Gunna, whose authorized title is Sergio Kitchens, can be charged within the racketeering and gang case. Each males have been in jail since their Might arrests.
The musicians are accused of conspiring to violate Georgia’s felony racketeering legislation, however the indictment outlines extra severe crimes allegedly carried out by “Younger Slime Life” associates starting from drug possession to homicide.
Of the 28 individuals charged, three stay at massive, whereas at the very least eight who’re in custody nonetheless haven’t got attorneys, prosecutors advised the choose, the Atlanta Journal-Structure reported.
Up to now, Glanville has not granted bond to any of the defendants, citing considerations about witness intimidation and the chance that further felonies could also be dedicated forward of January’s trial. Williams’ attorneys have repeatedly requested that their shopper be given an ankle monitor and allowed to await trial on home arrest.
Showing by way of video conferencing from the Cobb County jail, Williams smiled and blew kisses at kinfolk gathered within the courtroom throughout breaks in Thursday’s proceedings.
“Mr. Williams is an artist, a task mannequin, a father and a son,” legal professional Brian Metal advised the choose, urging the rapper be launched.
However his request was denied for the third time when Glanville sided with prosecutors to maintain the musician behind bars.
The choice got here after Glanville heard of at the very least one affiliate planning to testify towards Williams being positioned in protecting custody after a doc posted on-line confirmed his willingness to cooperate.
Fulton County prosecutor Don Geary requested the choose to additional limit the disclosure of sure proof forward of trial, saying a web page from discovery that was lately shared on-line jeopardizes the witness’ security.
“We discovered numerous info regarding one in every of our witnesses on principally a (superstar information) outlet,” Geary advised Glanville.
Protection attorneys contend that YSL, or Younger Stoner Life, is just the title of Younger Thug’s document label, not a violent Atlanta avenue gang as prosecutors allege.
Thursday’s listening to wasn’t the primary time prosecutors have raised considerations in regards to the security of state’s witnesses. Glanville beforehand issued a brief order instructing protection attorneys to withhold witness contact info from their shoppers.
However Kristen Novay, one in every of Kitchens’ attorneys, requested prosecutors for proof that potential witnesses are literally being threatened.
“We wish to know what particular threats there are,” Novay mentioned. “There have been many allegations that there are threats to witnesses, and so far we’ve got acquired no discovery, not a single shred of proof from a witness who was truly threatened.”
In June, an 18-year-old relative of one of many defendants was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill the Fulton County sheriff and his spouse except Williams had been launched, authorities mentioned, the newspaper reported.
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