By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Anthony Scott remains in custody following a status hearing surrounding the financial issues that have kept him from being released on home confinement. At the hearing, Scott appeared before Judge Ryan along with his attorney Brent Easton. Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Savannah Hull Wilkins represented the State in the matter.
According to Easton, Scott had not been released on home confinement due to financial constraints that have kept him from paying the necessary fees to Randolph County. Easton said that the fees would need to be paid before he could be released and an ankle bracelet would be placed to monitor his client’s movements. Easton further went on to say that Randolph County has a very set way in which they handle home confinement and tend to be unwavering in the financial aspect surrounding the cases.
Easton said that he had spoken to Scott’s mother who, while she had a desire to help with the costs, did not have the financial capabilities. According to Easton, Scott’s mother was under severe financial constraints and his client was unable to seek employment to earn money until he was released.
Wilkins said she had been in contact with Randolph County on the matter and that Scott owed $883.28 in back fees along with a first month’s monitoring fees of an additional $300. The monitoring fees brought the total owed by Scott for release to $1,183.28.
According to Wilkins, Randolph County had agreed to release Scott if he could come up with the $300 monitoring fees and good faith money on the back fees, as well as agree to a payment plan for the remaining balance. “Randolph County is doing this as a courtesy,” Wilkins said.
At several points in the proceedings, Judge Ryan acknowledged that he would be open to hearing options, but felt that he had little control over the regulatory practices that kept Scott from being released. “I’m open to listening to the options, but it doesn’t look like I have lot,” Judge Ryan said.
Easton also stated that his client would not be opposed to a court mandated order for him to obtain employment to pay the back fees, if released. As a part of Easton’s statement to the court, he made a motion that Scott be released with the stipulation that he get a job and pay off the balance to obtain the monitoring anklet in a reasonable amount of time. Easton’s motion would allow for a period of time after release that Scott was not monitored which Easton said would include daily check ins until the monitor was placed.
The motion was strongly opposed by Wilkins due to the nature of Scott’s offense. Scott was sentenced for violation of a lifetime restraining order. According to Wilkins, Scott was found to have crossed county lines to harass and confront the victim and altercations had occurred as a result. Wilkins also stated that when Scott was on home confinement previously, authorities were often unaware of his residence and Scott would often routinely not charge his ankle bracelet. “Knowing where he is for victim safety is crucial,” Wilkins said.
Judge Ryan denied the motion based on the objection of the prosecution. Scott was ordered to be confined until such time as he could comply with the terms of home confinement.