A Carter County judge denied a bond request Tuesday for a man charged with murder in the death of his 3-year-old stepson.
Demetrius Covington, 28, of Elizabethton, appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Monday morning for arraignment an charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child neglect. Judge Keith Bowers Jr. appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Covington.
During Monday’s court proceedings, Assistant Public Defender Greg Norris requested Bowers consider setting bond for Covington. Since his capture in Ohio and return to Carter County on Dec. 2, Covington has been held at the Carter County Detention Center without bond.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Hill told the court the state would oppose a bond being set for Covington, citing the seriousness of the charges against him and the fact Covington fled first to Virginia and then to Ohio where he was ultimately captured.
On Monday, Bowers said he would take the matter under consideration and issue a ruling on the bond request on Tuesday.
During Tuesday’s General Sessions Court proceedings, Bowers called Covington’s case before the court and announced his ruling.
“I considered all the statutory factors last night,” Bowers said. “I’m going to leave the bond as a no bond due to the flight history.”
Following the ruling by Bowers, Hill brought another case involving Covington to the court’s attention. Covington has a pending case against him involving charges of simple possession of Schedule VI drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hill informed the court Covington had waived his right to a hearing within 10 days.
Bowers appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Covington on those charges as well and rescheduled Covington to return to court on Jan. 13.