Two weeks after prosecutors with the Georgia Attorney General’s Office argued that Long County Commissioner Robert Parker and businessman Tony “Peewee” Fowler were flight risks, the two are out of jail on bond.
The news broke Tuesday morning ahead of the pair’s second bond hearing. Both were scheduled to appear before Judge William Woodrum, a senior judge who was appointed to oversee the case after judges in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit recused themselves.
As of 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, both were listed on the Tattnall County Jail website as ‘released.’ Parker and Fowler were housed in the neighboring county since Long County does not have a functioning jail.
No hearing was held as the state and the defense agreed to a consent bond with conditions for their release. Consent bonds are not unusual practice, but as a general rule do not follow arguments made by the state that defendants are flight risks and a danger to the community.
Parker and Fowler were arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on February 27 on charges stemming from alleged financial misdeeds with Long County government funds. Parker is the former chairman of the county commission and Fowler, a businessman, was awarded a number of no-bid contracts for county work. Parker has retained defense attorneys Brandon Clark and Jason Clark out of Brunswick while Fowler retained Hinesville defense attorney Nathaniel Merritt.
During a first appearance hearing on February 28, Michael Tabarrok from the Georgia Attorney General’s office detailed the day prior when Parker attempted to flee from law enforcement when they went to his home to serve arrest warrants. He also shared that Parker’s Aggravated Assault charge related to Parker allegedly threatening a county employee with a firearm by placing it in her mouth in front of at least two witnesses. Tabarrok told the court that Fowler had a secret room in his home with $41,000 in cash and missing passports.
Bryan County Magistrate Judge Carolynn Shervette-Montgomery denied bond for both but informed Parker and Fowler that they would have the opportunity to request a preliminary and bond hearing once the case was bound over to Superior Court. Defense attorneys for both elected to request those hearings, which were placed on the calendar for March 11.
The Consent Order for Fowler was signed Monday by Judge Woodrum. The conditions are as follows:
- $20,000 cash or surety bond
- Prohibited from possessing any dangerous weapons and cannot engage in any other illegal activity, no alcoholic beverages and no illegal drugs
- Prohibited from leaving the state of Georgia without prior approval from the Court
- Must surrender passport to the Long County Sheriff’s Office within 7 days of release or must provide proof from the Department of State regarding the status of passport (if it is expired)
- Must maintain a current address with the state and the Court
- No contact with any person regarding the criminal case other than his attorney
- No contact with co-defendant Robert Parker
- No contact with Charles Edward Pitts
The Consent Order for Parker was also signed Monday. The conditions are as follows:
- $50,000 cash or surety bond
- Prohibited from direct or indirect contact, including social media, with victim and witnesses, particularly the named victim in the aggravated assault warrant. Prohibition includes a stay away order that prohibits Parker from contacting the victim, going to her home, and going to her job. He must stay 50 yards away from her, her residence, and her place of employment
- Prohibited from attempt to or threatening to do any act of injury, maltreatment, harassment, or abuse of the named victim in the aggravated assault warrant. He is prohibited from interefering with her travel, transportation, or communication and cannot follow or place her under surveillance.
- Despite the above, Parker is permitted to attend regularly scheduled and special-called county commission meetings
- Prohibited from possessing any weapons, participating in other illegal activity, drinking alcohol, or taking illegal drugs
- Prohibited from leaving the State of Georgia without prior Court approval
- Must surrender passport to Sheriff of Long County prior to being released on bond
- Must maintain current address
- Prohibited from having contact with anyone about the case, other than his attorney
- Prohibited from exercising any controlling action or directive to any employee or volunteer of Long County or the City of Ludowici. He is permitted to attend hearings and perform his duties while lawfully holding the position of County Commissioner
Previous coverage on Long County:
- County Credit Card Statements Show Harrowing Financial Practices in Long County
- GBI Arrests Long County Commissioner, Vendor After Months-Long Investigation
- Warrants Detail Pattern of Criminal Behavior by Long County Commissioner, Bond Denied for Both Parker & Fowler
- Will Commissioner Robert Parker Be Removed from Office? Georgia Law Says ‘Not Yet’
