OXFORD, MS (abc24.com) - A judge revoked murder suspect Rico Fleming's bond Monday, January 23rd, calling him a special danger if released.
Fleming is charged with the Christmas Day drive-by shooting that killed a 16-year-old Memphis girl, Derica Patterson. He was being held on a million dollar bond, but the serious charges he's facing, plus Fleming's long criminal history are enough to keep him locked up.
They include murder, attempted murder, aggravated assaults, robbery, a previous parole violation, plus two and a half weeks spent running from police. The judge said the 22-year-old has proven he can't be trusted.
A subdued Rico Fleming listened in LaFayette County Court as the prosecution read off his many brushes with the law.
"He's a danger to society and he's a flight risk," said prosecutor Christine Tatum.
It was one of the prosecution's main arguments why Fleming should remain locked up without the million dollar bond granted him on January 12th.
"Investigator McMillen testified, and you can't get better than that, an actual co-defendant is saying Mr. Fleming was involved. That he was in the vehicle," Tatum told the court.
Marshall County Sheriff's deputies have also arrested 33-year-old Corey Albright and 16-year-old Christopher Collins for the Christmas morning shooting.
Criminal investigator Kelly McMillen gave new details on the crime, telling the court both men named Fleming as the shooter and that Collins was driving that night.
Fleming is a convicted felon who was out on a separate bond in Tennessee when the shooting happened.
He was on the run for two and a half weeks afterward. US.. Marshals eventually captured the fugitive in St. Louis.
Monday, the judge ruled to revoke Fleming's bond, saying he needed to be where law enforcement could keep their hands on him.
"To hold someone without bond, it's a high standard," said Kevin Frye, Fleming's public defender. "I don't believe the state met it today, but the judge's ruling was standard."
Fleming's next court date is February 29th in Marshall County. He will also face charges in Tennessee when his Mississippi hearings are over.
