By Tavia D. Green
The Leaf-Chronicle
July 6, 2009
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20090706/NEWS01/90706011
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| Jonathan Giles |
A judge will decide this afternoon if a former youth minister accused of sexually abusing teenage girls will have his bond reduced and if his case will be heard by the grand jury.
Jonathan Tyler Giles, 24, of 2680 Cider Drive, was charged with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of soliciting a minor. He is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $750,000 bond.
Giles, a former youth minister at Spring Creek Baptist Church was arrested June 24 on allegations he had sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl in the youth group on more than one occasion and asked the girl to have sex.
Giles is also accused of sending inappropriate text messages before and after church services to the girl, according to a previous report.
Allegations spelled out in Giles arrest report filed by Detective DeMond Chestnut also asserted Giles asked another girl, age 17, to have sex and also sent inappropriate text messages to that minor before and after services and activities.
Giles is also alleged to have touched the breast of a third minor enrolled in the youth group and sent her inappropriate messages.
This morning the General Sessions trial or preliminary hearing was set to take place, but Assistant District Attorney Art Bieber and Giles' defense attorney Nathan Hunt said that there was an announcement.
The two said they had agreed to lower Giles bond to $10,000 on each count giving him a $60,000 bond.
Bieber said there would be six conditions of release spelled out in the bond reduction agreement for Giles to abide by.
Bieber said Giles would have to reside with his parents who live in another county in Tennessee, is to have no contact with any children younger than 18, be gainfully employed, have no contact with friends of family members of the alleged victims and have no contact with any adult church members at the Spring Creek Baptist Church.
Judge Elizabeth Rankin asked how the conditions would be enforced in another county and Hunt and Bieber offered suggestions. Rankin said the allegations are pretty bad and to not have a trial or anything was "nothing."
Hunt said Giles father would post a cash bond and make sure Giles does what he's supposed to do.
Rankin said she had to think about it, and, after leaving the courtroom for a few minutes, came back and said the court would re-address the case this afternoon. Judge Ray Grimes is the scheduled judge for the afternoon session.
Two of the state's witnesses were present, and after consulting with them Bieber said they would be prepared this afternoon.
Court is to resume at 1:30 p.m.
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