COLUMBUS, Ind. — A judge has doubled the bond amount for a local man accused in a domestic violence incident that led to the death of a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department K9.
A video conference allowed Michael L. Stephens, 36, of 1990 W. County Road 625S to take part in an initial hearing while incarcerated in the Bartholomew County Jail. The initial hearing was conducted by Magistrate and Circuit Court commissioner Kim Van Valer, who oversees routine cases when Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin is unavailable.
Stephens is accused of one Level 5 count of domestic battery, as well as four Level 6 felonies: strangulation, residential entry, intimidation and invasion of privacy. Stephens is also facing Class A misdemeanor charges of resisting law enforcement, intimidation and interfering with a law enforcement animal.
If convicted of all charges, Stephens could be sentenced to between five and 19 years in prison, as well as face fines of up to $65,000. The magistrate scheduled a 11:30 a.m. pre-trial conference for Feb. 8, while a tentative trial is set for 8:30 a.m. on March 9.
Stephens’ bond was raised from $97,500 to $210,000 or 10% cash, jail commander Maj. John Martoccia said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
