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No Bail: Judge rules sufficient flight risk in murder case

Judge Riddle presides, second day on the bench

By Janelle Patterson 5 min read

At a glance:

¯ Tyler Thompson, 28, of 48569 Outpost Road, Caldwell, was indicted this month for the alleged murder of Leah Brooke Hines.

¯ Thompson faces the following counts:

¯ Count 1: Aggravated murder, an unclassified felony, with a firearms specification.

¯ Count 2: Murder, an unclassified felony, with a firearms specification.

¯ Count 3: Murder, an unclassified felony, with a firearms specification.

¯ Count 4: Tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

¯ If convicted, he faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

¯ The jury trial is scheduled for June.

Source: Noble County Common Pleas Court.

CALDWELL -- A 28-year-old man accused of shooting his fiancee in the back in March was returned to the custody of the Noble County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday following an arraignment and a bond hearing in Noble County Common Pleas Court.

Presiding Tuesday for her second day on the bench was Judge Kelly Riddle, formerly a county prosecutor who was elected last year to begin her judicial term Monday.

Tyler Thompson, of 48569 Outpost Road, Caldwell, faces one count of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; two counts of murder, also unclassified felonies; and one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; with all three murder counts, according to the indictment announcement Monday, including firearms specifications.

The type of firearm allegedly used in the offense has not been released by the Noble County Sheriff's Office.

If convicted of any or all of the unclassified felonies, Riddle explained, Thompson could be subject to a prison term of life, without the possibility of parole.

According to the Noble County Sheriff's Office, Thompson shot and killed his fiancee, Leah Brooke Hines, a mother of three children under 8 years old, on March 21.

Thompson's indictment was released Monday after a county grand jury met last week. Thompson appeared in person in the courthouse Tuesday with retained Defense Attorney Ashton Gaitanos, appearing in the stead of the listed defense attorney in the case record, Samuel Shemansky, a Columbus criminal defense lawyer.

Appearing for the prosecution was Noble County Prosecutor Jordan Croucher and Lt. Jay McKee, of the Noble County Sheriff's Office.

Riddle declined the defense's plea for a bond, counter-arguments for bail, and cited "sufficient risk" in the decision to retain custody of Thompson pending trial, which is has been scheduled for June.

Thompson pleaded not guilty to all four counts in the indictment Tuesday, prompting arguments and testimony concerning said arguments for and against the retention of custody.

Testimony

Three times the testimony of McKee was interrupted with counselors instructed by the judge to approach the bench, limiting the scope of questioning, removing other witnesses from the courtroom and focusing testimony for the hearing concerning whether Thompson could be considered a flight risk, given the seriousness of the charges against him.

McKee testified concerning the investigation into the death of Hines and gunfire reported to the Noble County Sheriff's office in March.

"Leah Hines was found deceased," he said. "Gunshot wound to the back."

The lieutenant also testified to three alleged confessions to law enforcement by Thompson and additional alleged confessions to family members of Thompson.

"He also told me that he shot Leah Hines," he said. "He told his mother that he shot her, I believe he told his father … He also called an ex-girlfriend who he has a child with and told her he shot Leah."

McKee also testified to the social media backlash that began after the arrest of Thompson was made public, noting a fear for the safety of the defendant if he was allowed out of the custody of law enforcement.

Gaitanos argued that Thompson's previous criminal history was "sterile" and thus should afford Thompson the privilege of at least home confinement or GPS monitoring.

But Riddle noted that the state had met its burden for arguing no bail, given both the weight of alleged evidence, the alleged factor of alcohol and prior physical confrontations testified to during the hearing.

Attendance

Seated in the gallery of the courtroom were family members of Thompson, behind him, including parents, a sibling and an aunt.

Seated behind the prosecution were two identified victims, family of Hines, with three victim's advocates as afforded by the court.

At the conclusion of the hearing, following Thompson's removal by deputies, his mother was escorted out of the room shaking and crying, by her husband.

What's next

Thompson and legal counsel for both the defense and prosecution are next scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing in May, with a one-week trial anticipated for mid-June.

Sheriff Jason Mackie noted his agency will remain tight-lipped concerning the case through its conclusion.

"We're trying to keep it here," he explained.

Presumably, the alleged facts and details of the case are to be protected to prevent the tainting a potential jury pool prior to the trial.

Janelle Patterson may be reached at

jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

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