A Franklin man charged with killing a 5-month-old baby in a northwest Fayette home will remain in jail for now.
A bond request from Steven Anthony Haire, 22, was denied this afternoon by Fayette County Superior Court Judge Tommy Hankinson. Haire is accused of shaking infant Zachery Freeman until the baby couldn’t breathe.
Haire’s attorney had asked for a $50,000 bond, claiming that Haire is not a flight risk and poses no threat to witnesses in the case.
Haire served a two-year sentence for aggravated child molestation in a juvenile case, said Assistant District Attorney Warren Sellers.
Since the murder charge also involves a young child, Haire is likely to re-offend if he is released into the community, Sellers argued.
The infant’s injuries included subdural hematomas, retinal hemorrhaging and multiple seizures, Sellers said. Infant Freeman died Feb. 25 at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital, he added.
“The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was homicide: cranio-cerebral trauma,” Sellers said.
“He is a threat to the community,” Sellers argued.
Judge Hankinson said he would be willing to reconsider bond after the case is presented to a grand jury for possible indictment. That is expected to happen in late May.
Haire’s attorney Harry Charles said he thinks the evidence presented at an upcoming hearing may lead to the charges being reduced to manslaughter.
Infant Freeman had stopped breathing Feb. 21 when Fayette County EMS was called to the baby’s home on West Lane. He was transported to Children’s Hospital where he remained in a coma and died four days later.
