Man charged in 2022 killing gets bond, prosecutors wanted Aniah’s Law hold
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A Toney man charged in the May 2022 killing of one man and shooting of two others has been granted bond over the objection of prosecutors.
The Madison County District Attorney’s Office argued this week that Robert Shepherd Jr., 24, should be held without bond under Alabama’s “Aniah’s Law,” which can deny bond for people charged with certain violent offenses.
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But, Shepherd’s attorney Larry Marsili said in a court filing that Aniah’s Law doesn’t apply to Shepherd’s case because it became official in November 2022, months after Shepherd’s arrest.
Madison County Judge Patrick Tuten agreed with the defense Wednesday, setting Shepherd’s bond at $150,000. Tuten’s bond hearing set for July 11, was canceled in the same order.
Shepherd is charged with killing William Singleton on Spirit Drive in Toney and shooting two others following a child’s birthday party in May 2022. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said it was looking for Shepherd for three days before he turned himself in.
The past few years appear to have been a winding road for Shepherd and his custody status.
Court records show he was granted bond following his arrest in 2022, but he was again arrested on a probation violation charge in Pike County. He was eventually returned to an Alabama prison. He was granted supervised release from prison – but was arrested on a Madison County warrant for failing to appear for a January 2024 court date.
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The defense says that failure to appear was due to Shepherd being in prison, a fact he notified the court about.
The defense had argued if he is granted bond Shepherd would be subject to supervised release by the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Shepherd would be subject to electronic monitoring and daily check-ins on his status, the defense said in its court filing. Shepherd’s attorney Marsili also argued that it would be unjust to deny Shepherd bond unless prosecutors can provide evidence that he is a flight risk for danger to the community.
Prosecutors argued that Shepherd should be held without bond.
“The State believes no measure short of incarceration can protect the public from the dangerous behavior of the defendant and defendant should be held without bond in this case,” the Madison County District Attorney’s Office said in a Monday court filing.
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