Accused cop-killer Joshua Jones shuffled into bond court Monday in shackles and a striped orange jumpsuit where he appeared muttering and growling before Judge Donna Williamson.
He will not be released.
Jones, 26, has been charged with the murder of Master Cpl. Sandy Rogers and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
His bond on the weapons charge was set at $10,000. A magistrate judge cannot set bond on a charge carrying a life sentence, and no bond was set for the murder.
Williamson added that he wouldn't be able to receive a bond because Richmond County officials have a hold on the accused man for his alleged role in the murder of his 21-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Cayce Vice. Her body was found around 10:30 a.m. Saturday at her apartment in Richmond County. She had been shot in the head sometime before Rogers was gunned down at 7:40 a.m. in Eustis Park, officials said.
He led police on a high-speed chase and eventually to his Batesburg home, where he was detained around 11:30 a.m.
When Williamson confronted Jones with the charges against him in court Monday, she asked him if he had an attorney. He refused counsel and then cursed at the judge. He growled and mumbled for the remainder of the hearing.
His behavior was "very disturbing," said Capt. Troy Elwell with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
But the captain said he wouldn't speculate on the accused killer's mental health, saying that he wasn't sure whether the growling, shaking and cursing were a part of an act.
Jones' father, James Jones, said he has never seen his son act as he had but did admit that the accused murderer stabbed him when his son was 16.
The elder Jones described his son as having a "condition" but said doctors have not diagnosed him with any particular disorder.
He said he believes his son is mentally unstable.
According to the South Carolina Code of Law, a defendant can claim a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity but would have the burden of proving an inability to "distinguish moral or legal right from moral or legal wrong."
Before a defendant can argue a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity, the defendant would first have to be found competent to stand trial and meaningfully participate in his or her court proceedings.
"There's a real problem here," James Jones said after the hearing Monday morning. "Hopefully, he can get some serious help."
But Joshua Jones has been in a mental health center in the past year and has been on medication, the man's father told reporters.
He said his son was released from a mental health center in August.
In June, Joshua Jones attempted suicide because he was reportedly "depressed" and shot himself in the head while he was in the woods near his Clearmont Drive home in North Augusta, according to reports filed with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
The deputy who responded to the home described seeing a dried line of blood extending from Joshua Jones' left temple to his left ear lobe. At the time, EMS personnel said Jones' vital signs were good, and he did not appear to have an life-threatening injuries.
Jones was reportedly more gravely injured only months prior when he was found lying on the side of Door Street near Edgefield Highway.
On March 2, 2011, he was reportedly beaten severely, suffering lacerations on the right side of his face.
Doctors at the trauma center in Georgia said Jones was being treated for internal bleeding.
James Jones said he doesn't understand how or why his son has survived after having had so many brushes with death.
Jones has appearances scheduled in court on March 9 and again on June 1.
Karen Daily, a graduate of USC, has been the crime reporter at the Aiken Standard for seven years. She has reported here since 2001.
Aiken Standard reporter Anna Dolianitis contributed to this article.
Copyright 2012 - Aiken Standard, S.C.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
