Bond Hearing held for West — $150,000 bond set

At the beginning of a hearing to determine a bond amount for Andy West, defense attorney Jud McMillin withdrew a prior request for a competency hearing. The bond hearing was held on November 5 in Superior Court and was set after four additional felony charges (Invasion of Privacy) were filed against West in a short timeframe after he was convicted of Intimidation, a level 6 felony, on August 11.

All four felonies that followed West’s sentencing on August 11 were due to violating a no contact order issued as part of West’s sentence.

Also included in West’s terms of probation was inpatient treatment at a facility in California in which he was admitted into on August 18 and remained for two weeks before being discharged and directed to take part in a step-down program.

An arrest warrant was issued after an invasion of privacy felony charge was filed on Sept. 5, within days after West was discharged from the facility for contacting the victim via text message. On Sept 11, West was arrested and jailed in California for seven days before being released due to not being extradited back to Indiana. A court order by Judge Jeff Sharp was filed on September 30 ordering West to surrender within 30 days. (West turned himself in on Oct. 16)

Prosecuting Attorney Ric Hertel, presented two witnesses to the court. Andrew Campbell, a Probation Officer for Ripley County Court Services who had West assigned to his caseload, testified in detail of his communication records with West after discharge from treatment and explained that West never provided Campbell his physical location which is a requirement of probation.

The second witness was Tracy Rohlfing, investigator for the prosecutor’s office. Rohlfing testified to different dates, conversations and meetings with the victim regarding the communication the victim would receive from West and he also provided a few examples of text messages which included several derogatory remarks about the court and its officials.

Jud McMillin, defense attorney representing West, called Scott West, uncle of Andy West to the stand where he testified that West was “not at all” a danger to the victim or anyone else. West’s uncle testified that his nephew had an addiction issue with alcoholism.

Prosector Hertel requested the court set a $250,000 bond stating he believed West to be a flight risk and due to worry and concern for the victim and others. McMillin argued that West has reported to court when required since his initial charge, that West is not a danger to society and that treatment is what is needed for West. The defense requested the court not set a monetary bond but instead order home detention with a required treatment program where West could be monitored by court services and with knowledge of an open bed at House of Hope.

“Did he turn himself in within 30 days? Yes, but with four new felony charge allegations….We have a domestic situation,” Judge Sharp stated after delivering the facts of the evidence.

The court found evidence of West to be a flight risk and also found there is some degree of danger to himself and the victim. Disdain for the courts authority and the inability to follow rules of the court also were factors in the determination of bond.

Superior Court Judge Sharp ordered bond be set in the amount of $150,000 ($25,000 each case). If released on bond, the court ordered West to pretrial in-home detention (electronic monitoring) and the continuation of treatment.