Bondsman says he didn't notice school
Second trial under way in 2001 armed chase
By ANGELA HEYWOOD BIBLE, Staff Writer
HILLSBOROUGH -- A Durham bail bondsman accused of running across a school playground with his gun drawn in March 2001 told a jury Tuesday that he didn't notice he was on school property because he was focused on chasing a bond jumper.
At his trial in Orange County Superior Court, Derrick Lorinza Hester, 48, said he realized the mistake when he saw a teacher and her fifth-grade class playing outside.
"I ran with [my gun] down by my leg so they couldn't see it," said Hester, who is charged with carrying a pistol onto school property, a felony. "I didn't want to startle the kids."
Hester, who owns Hester's Bail Bonds in Durham, could lose his bondsman's license if convicted.
About 10:35 a.m. on March 22, 2001, Hester and three other bondsmen chased Lakendris McAdoo, a fugitive who owed Hester $12,000 in forfeited bonds, from a house on Fuller Road to nearby Efland-Cheeks Elementary School.
Gerald Haskins, a bondsman who accompanied Hester to the scene and ran through the school with his gun in its holster, was convicted April 10 on the same charge.
On Tuesday, teacher Marilyn Liner told the court about the scary moments after she saw two bondsmen -- one with his gun drawn -- approaching the playground where about 25 of her students were playing.
"I carried [the children] into the classroom and told them to get on the floor," she said, "and I cut the light off."
Liner called Principal Rebecca Horne, who called 911.
The school stayed in lock-down state for more than two hours as Orange County sheriff's deputies sorted out the situation.
Hester told the court that before the chase reached the school, he saw McAdoo fumbling with the right side of his shirt, so Hester drew his gun and lost his holster.
After being arrested, Hester cooperated with deputies and willingly gave a statement without a lawyer.
"I had nothing to hide," said Hester, who is now represented by Chapel Hill lawyers Kirk Osborn and Amos Tyndall. "I was out doing my job. I told the truth."
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1780646p-1788620c.html
Second trial under way in 2001 armed chase
By ANGELA HEYWOOD BIBLE, Staff Writer
HILLSBOROUGH -- A Durham bail bondsman accused of running across a school playground with his gun drawn in March 2001 told a jury Tuesday that he didn't notice he was on school property because he was focused on chasing a bond jumper.
At his trial in Orange County Superior Court, Derrick Lorinza Hester, 48, said he realized the mistake when he saw a teacher and her fifth-grade class playing outside.
"I ran with [my gun] down by my leg so they couldn't see it," said Hester, who is charged with carrying a pistol onto school property, a felony. "I didn't want to startle the kids."
Hester, who owns Hester's Bail Bonds in Durham, could lose his bondsman's license if convicted.
About 10:35 a.m. on March 22, 2001, Hester and three other bondsmen chased Lakendris McAdoo, a fugitive who owed Hester $12,000 in forfeited bonds, from a house on Fuller Road to nearby Efland-Cheeks Elementary School.
Gerald Haskins, a bondsman who accompanied Hester to the scene and ran through the school with his gun in its holster, was convicted April 10 on the same charge.
On Tuesday, teacher Marilyn Liner told the court about the scary moments after she saw two bondsmen -- one with his gun drawn -- approaching the playground where about 25 of her students were playing.
"I carried [the children] into the classroom and told them to get on the floor," she said, "and I cut the light off."
Liner called Principal Rebecca Horne, who called 911.
The school stayed in lock-down state for more than two hours as Orange County sheriff's deputies sorted out the situation.
Hester told the court that before the chase reached the school, he saw McAdoo fumbling with the right side of his shirt, so Hester drew his gun and lost his holster.
After being arrested, Hester cooperated with deputies and willingly gave a statement without a lawyer.
"I had nothing to hide," said Hester, who is now represented by Chapel Hill lawyers Kirk Osborn and Amos Tyndall. "I was out doing my job. I told the truth."
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1780646p-1788620c.html
