Terry Rawls given higher bond, then bonds out

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said Terry Rawls should have never been given a bond as low as $7,500. Friday, Judge Charles McKnight doubled his bond in special hearing called by the district attorney.

Rich said however, that still wasn't enough.

"We're disappointed. We think the defendant needs to be held with a higher bond than $15,00. When you have a history of shooting someone, going to prison for it, history of theft, burglary; then you beat a man, we think your bond should be higher," said Rich.

In court, Rich went through the list of Rawls' felony convictions.

She also told the judge that Rawls had failed to appear in court on 10 separate occasions.

Defense attorney Dennis Knizley argued many of those cases were more than 10 years old.

"I don't have any great concern with what Judge McKnight did. It's fair, reasonable enough. He does have a criminal history, and the bonding company is here to make bond," Knizley said.

The victim in this case, Matthew Owens was not at the hearing. Owens was allegedly beaten by Rawls after a confrontation Owens had with some neighborhood kids. This case will now be heard by a Mobile County grand jury.