Opinion
55,474-KW
08-17-2023
STATE OF LOUISIANA v. ANDREW CHAD CAMP
T. TAYLOR TOWNSEND, LLC Thomas Taylor Townsend Counsel for: Andrew Chad Camp Steven D. Crews Richard Christopher Nevils Counsel for: State of Louisiana
FILED: 08/02/23
RECEIVED: BY HAND 08/02/23
On application of Andrew Chad Camp for SUPERVISORY WRIT in No. 45,599 on the docket of the Eighth Judicial District, Parish of WINN, Judge Anastasia Stacy Wiley.
T. TAYLOR TOWNSEND, LLC
Thomas Taylor Townsend
Counsel for: Andrew Chad Camp
Steven D. Crews
Richard Christopher Nevils
Counsel for: State of Louisiana
Before PITMAN, HUNTER, and ELLENDER, JJ.
WRIT GRANTED; REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.
Applicant, Andrew Chad Camp, seeks expedited review of the June 28, 2023, "Order" of the trial court modifying his bail obligation to $1,250,000.00, on grounds that the bond amount is excessive. The 17-year-old defendant charged with manslaughter is a life-long resident of Winn Parish where he resides with his mother. He has agreed to weekly random urine analysis and blood tests for alcohol and drugs at his expense, as well as an ankle monitor limiting where he can go. Additional restrictions were imposed as a condition of his release. The victim in this case is defendant's father. Multiple relatives, on both defendant's maternal and paternal sides of his family, testified they don't believe he is a flight risk, or that he is a danger to himself or the community. It was also stipulated that the sheriff of Winn Parish does not believe defendant is a flight risk. The defendant has shown that he has no criminal history and has no ability to make bail. Defendant claims he is not a flight risk and poses no risk to himself or anyone in the community. The state has offered no evidence to rebut any of these conclusions, nor has it filed an opposition to this writ application.
Pursuant to the dictates of La.C.Cr.P. art. 316, as well as La. Const. art I, § 18, we find that, for this particular defendant and for this particular case, the total bail obligation should not exceed $500,000.00. The additional conditions of release that were imposed shall remain in place at the discretion of the trial judge. We remand to the trial court to set bail in accordance with this Court's ruling.
HUNTER, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. I agree the bail obligation imposed by the trial court was constitutionally excessive. However, I do not agree "the total bail obligation should not exceed $500,000.00," which I believe remains an unreasonable sum for a 17-year old who lacks the financial means to pay it.