Published: September 13, 2007 01:33 am         

Bond reduction denied in Commerce cases

A state district judge has denied a bond reduction for a Commerce man, one of three suspects accused of an armed July 23 hold-up at a residence in the city.

George Washington Sharper, 18, of Commerce, remains in custody in the Hunt County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond on one count of aggravated robbery and $25,000 bond on one count of possession of a controlled substance.

During a hearing last month in the 354th District Court, Judge Richard A. Beacom agreed to lower Sharper’s bond on the possession of a controlled substance charge from $44,000 to $25,000, but refused to lower the bond on the aggravated robbery charge.

The attorney representing Sharper had since filed a motion, indicating the defendant was unable to make either bond and requesting Sharper released on $1,000 personal recognizance bonds on each charge.

Beacom denied the motion during a hearing Wednesday.

Sharper was one of three men arrested on the night of July 23, after a report of an armed robbery in the 2500 block of Solomon Drive in Commerce.

Three suspects were said to have left the scene in an Oldsmobile Alero. A Commerce police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of the car proceeding westbound at a high rate of speed, according to a criminal complaint filed as part of court records.

After stopping the Alero, the officer allegedly discovered a bag containing eight pairs of athletic shoes, as well as three rings, all of which had been reported stolen from the residence. Two handguns and 11 bags of what was believed to be crack cocaine were also found in the vehicle.