One of three men allegedly involved in a high-speed chase from Valparaiso to the Indiana Toll Road earlier this month will have to pay $10,000 in cash to be released from Porter County Jail or file a motion with the court for a bond reduction, a judge said Tuesday.
Porter Superior Court Judge David Chidester made the decision during an initial hearing for Armari Lomax, 19, who, with two other Dolton, Illinois, men, face an array of charges in the Sept. 4 series of events that started with a report of car break-ins in Valparaiso and ended with the theft of a toll road vehicle and the shooting of one of the men by police
Court documents state Lomax hit speeds of up to 120 mph in a stolen car during a pursuit by police.
Lomax appeared before Chidester by videoconference with Chaz Murray, 19, and Kobe Watson, 22.
Andrew Bennett, Lomax’s defense attorney, waived having Chidester read the charges and penalties, and said he had gone through them with Lomax Monday night at the jail.
Lomax faces two felony counts for resisting law enforcement; misdemeanor counts of criminal recklessness and reckless driving; and 12 traffic citations for offenses including speeding, disregarding traffic signals, and unsafe lane movement.
Lomax agreed to a preliminary plea of not guilty on all the charges, with additional court dates set for Oct. 17 and Nov. 19, and trial by jury on Jan. 27.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the crimes with which his client is charged, Bennett asked for bond to be set at $2,000 or $2,500 rather than $1,500.
“He is a sophomore at South Suburban College, where he studies business administration. He has two jobs,” Bennett said, adding Lomax has family support and his mother was in court.
Lomax’s previous court contacts were for possession of stolen property as a juvenile and for trespassing as an adult, Bennett said, adding Lomax never failed to appear for court
Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Harry Peterson said the charges against Lomax include allegations of fleeing from police.
“The state would suggest the defendant is a flight risk,” he said, asking for no bond or a high bond.
Murray, who suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound from police, is charged with felony counts of resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness and theft, for allegedly taking the toll road maintenance vehicle. He also is charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement.
Chidester entered a preliminary plea of not guilty on his behalf, and Murray said he would retain a private attorney.
Chidester set bond at $5,000 cash but said if Murray’s attorney seeks a bond reduction, he would hold an immediate hearing on the matter, and Murray’s gunshot wound could be a factor in a reduced bond.
Murray’s court dates are Oct. 17 and Nov. 19, with a jury trial on Jan. 27.
Watson was charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement. Chidester entered a not guilty plea on his behalf as well and set bond at $5,000 cash. He has an Oct. 2 court date and a bench trial scheduled for Dec. 20, with a Dec. 10 deadline to request a jury trial instead.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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