News
Arocho Violates Bond
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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The Albany man accused of robbing Peoples Bank on East State Street in July is back in jail after he attempted to overdose on drugs, prosecutors said.
Emmanuel Arocho, appeared in Judge L. Alan Goldsberry's court on Tuesday to face a motion for bond revocation by the Athens County Prosecutor's Office.
Arocho, 31, is charged with robbery after allegedly entering Peoples Bank on July 8, handing the teller a napkin with demands for money, and leaving with more than $3,000.
A motion, filed Aug. 30, claimed Arocho violated his bond by "attempting to overdose on drugs on Aug. 30, 2013, and by being combative with medical staff at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital," the motion states.
An arrest warrant was issued for Arocho, who was released after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bond given to him in July by Goldsberry.
Arocho was arrested Monday and the prosecutor said there was no reason for him to be free while the case continues.
"The issue here is he is accused of robbing a bank because of his addiction and he was combative at the hospital while being treated," said Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn. "Probably him being on the streets is not what's best for the community."
Blackburn said the $35,000 bond placed on Arocho at the Tuesday hearing was "absolutely" appropriate in the case.
He was indicted on the charge in mid-July and during his initial appearance in Athens Municipal Court, asked the court for leniency based on the fact that he had surrendered to police and his desire to enter a substance abuse treatment program, according to previous Messenger reports.
Arocho has had to change attorneys since the initial arrest, because of a conflict of interest and subsequent withdrawal by his public defender. Douglas Francis, assistant Ohio public defender, filed a motion on Aug. 15 withdrawing his counsel "due to our office representing Sayward Ryder, one of the prosecutor's witnesses," according to the court document.
On Aug. 23, Goldsberry appointed James Wallace to represent Arocho in the case.