Thread: NC Judge refuses to reduce bail for Gavin Grant

Judge refuses to reduce bail for Gavin Grant
By Thomasi McDonald
Staff writer The Charlotte Observer
Posted: Monday, Jan. 31, 2011

RALEIGH Wake County District Court Judge Keith Gregory refused to lower the bail this afternoon for former N.C. State basketball player Gavin Grant, who was arrested over the weekend and charged with taking part in a home invasion robbery in West Raleigh in September.

Gregory chose to leave Grant's bail at $505,000 after learning that federal immigration officials have placed a retainer on the former college player and because of the seriousness of the charges. The immigration hold stems from a 2007 federal immigration hearing in Atlanta where Grant faced deportation when officials had to determine if he had entered the country illegally from Jamaica as a child. The case was later closed.

Raleigh attorney, Jessie Jeffers, who represented Grant during a first appearance hearing, had asked Gregory to lower the bail to $100,000.

Wake prosecutor Jennifer Reimer objected, pointing out that he had fled to New York for many months to avoid arrest. Reimer also pointed out that even though Grant knew the man he's accused of trying to rob, he nonetheless forced his way into the apartment and ordered the man to "get down on the floor and give me everything you got," before pistol whipping him.

"I can appreciate the fact these are serious charges and that at this point that they are simply charges," Gregory replied. But the judge also noted that with three serious felony charge and an INS hold that Grant's bond was "not unconscionable."

Police have charged Grant, 25, with first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon. Grant could be sentenced to up to more than 40 years in prison if he is convicted of all of the charges

Police also have implicated another former NCSU player, Farnold Degand, as the person who may have co-conspired with Grant to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident.

However, police have not charged Degand.

Jim Sughrue, a Raleigh police spokesman, said investigators are continuing to look for another person not yet identified, but he said Degand is not considered a suspect.

"We are not looking for him," said Sughrue, who declined to say of Degand was inside of the apartment when the incident occurred.

"There were two suspects there, but Grant is the only one of the two we have identified," Sughrue said.

Grant played for former coach Herb Sendek from 2004 through 2008 and was a college teammate of Julius Hodge and Cedric Simmons.

Police have been looking for Grant since November. Investigators arrested Grant on Sunday afternoon at an apartment in the 5400 block of Summit Manor Lane after receiving a tip that he was there, Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said today.

"Police were preparing to make entry when he came to the door and surrendered," Sughrue said.

Jeffers, Grant's attorney, said that his client had called him last week for New York and that he urged Grant to turn himself in. Jeffers said Grant was at first reluctant to come forward because he was afraid and because he did not understand the gravity of what had been alleged.

"He understood that he needed an attorney before he turned himself in," Jeffers said this afternoon.

State records indicated that Grant lived at the apartment before police announced that he was wanted for the home invasion in November.

Grant remains in the Wake County jail this afternoon.

Described as a buoyant, clutch player, particularly during his season season with the Wolfpack, Grant played high school ball at prep powerhouse St. Raymond's High School in the Bronx, N.Y. where he caught the attention of college scouts.

He went on to star with the Utah Flash in the NBA Developmental League for nearly two years and was described by the team's owner as a promising basketballer who certainly had a future in the NBA or as a pro player in Europe.

Officials with the Utah Flash were expecting him to report for practice in early November.

The home invasion occurred at 1723 Crossroads Arbor Way around 10 p.m. on Sept. 24, the police reported.

Police say that Grant was one of two armed men who forced their way into the apartment and assaulted a man and woman before attempting to rob them. The residents told police that they fought off the men, who fled before they were able to complete the robbery.

Arrest warrants made public today indicated that police think Grant tried to rob the residents of $300 and a laptop computer. He is also accused of hitting the male victim in the forehead with a black and silver handgun during the robbery attempt, police reported.

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"I can appreciate the fact these are serious charges and that at this point that they are simply charges," Gregory replied. But the judge also noted that with three serious felony charge and an INS hold that Grant's bond was "not unconscionable."

Grant is high risk for fleeing the Country, if bond is set any lower.