Cherol murder suspect likely to remain jailed pending February court ruling
Despite a relatively low bond of $35,000, Colette Collins, who is charged along with her husband in the shotgun slaying of a Bluffton restaurateur, is likely to remain in jail for the foreseeable future.
Collins, 34, and husband Samuel Collins, 38, were charged Dec. 3 in the Oct. 28 death of Johnathan Cherol.
She'll likely remain in the Beaufort County Detention Center until mid-February, however, on an allegation she violated bail conditions on an earlier marijuana manufacturing and distribution charge. On Dec. 8, "A" Bail Now! Bail Bonds Inc. and Roche Surety filed a motion alleging she "violated condition of bail under the 'Good Behavior' clause" when she was charged with murder.
The motion is not expected to be taken up in General Sessions court until the middle of next month, according to Jeffrey Stephens, Colette Collins' attorney.
Before she was charged with murder, Colette Collins was charged in the marijuana case Nov. 24 and released the next day when she posted bail through the bail company, according to the Beaufort County Court website.
Collins can pay the bail for the murder charge, but would not be released from jail until the marijuana charge motion is resolved, Stephens' office said Friday.
Stephens said Thursday he plans to fight the motion in court because the murder happened nearly a month before his client was charged with manufacturing and distributing marijuana, the "good behavior" clause does not apply, he said.
In granting Colette Collins the $35,000 bond, Judge Michael Nettles said she would be placed on house arrest and required to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Bond amounts are set at the discretion of the presiding judge, 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone said in an email Wednesday.
"A judge's two main considerations for setting bond are whether the defendant poses a danger to the community or is a flight risk," Stone wrote.
Asked about the amount set in the Colette Collins' case, Stone wrote, "It would be improper for me to comment on a judge's decision regarding bond amounts or conditions."
Nettles was attending a conference in Charleston on Friday and was unavailable for a comment.
Samuel Collins was denied bond Thursday and remains in the detention center.
Follow Caitlin Turner on Twitter at twitter.com/Cait_E_Turner.
Related Content:
- Judge denies bond for suspect in Cherol's death; possible motives revealed, January 21, 2016
- Bluffton Neighbor of Sam and Colette Collins: 'They were loners'
This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Cherol murder suspect likely to remain jailed pending February court ruling."