Maddox Required To Wear GPS Bracelet, Bail Increased
Posted
Shannon Fiecke-
SCOTT COUNTY, Minn. - The accused murderer of Shakopee Valley News reporter Ruth Anne Maddox, who has been out on bail for 16 months, will now be required to wear a Global Positioning System tracking bracelet.
Charles "Tony" Maddox, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, was arrested Sept. 10 on a DWI charge in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He appeared Friday in Scott County District Court for a bail review hearing.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
Scott County District Court Judge Jerome Abrams raised Maddox's $1 million conditional bail by another $100,000 and added conditions that he abstain from alcohol, submit to chemical use testing and wear GPS bracelet.
When Maddox, 46, posted $1 million bail on May 8, 2009, he was only required to give up his passport. Prosecutors did not request a GPS unit at that time.
On Friday, Scott County prosecutor Neil Nelson asked for an additional $500,000 bail and a GPS unit. "He is a public safety risk," Nelson said.
Defense attorney Frederic Bruno requested only an additional condition of no alcohol use, arguing that a higher bail would only hurt Maddox's relatives, who put up real estate and cash for his $1 million bail, as well as a $50,000 non-refundable fee.
Bruno pointed out that Maddox has attended all court hearings and frequently visits Bruno's law office in Golden Valley near the apartment Maddox shares with his mother.
"He's been compliant with everything," Bruno said.
Maddox briefly took the stand to testify about his drunken-driving arrest. He said he drank three pints of beer while out with a friend at Champps in Minnetonka after umpiring a softball game.
Bruno downplayed the DWI arrest, pointing out that his client was stopped for speeding, and that Maddox's speech was good and he was polite and talkative, informing the state trooper that he was out on bail.
Nelson responded that Maddox had crossed the fog line and performed poorly on visual tests. He also pointed out Maddox was familiar with the size of drinks given his bartending experience.
While Bruno pointed to the investment Maddox's family put into his bail as proof his client was not a flight risk, Abrams said that was what was most disconcerting to him - that Maddox would risk violating bail, knowing how much his family invested.
Abrams was also upset Maddox had not updated his address. While his driver's license has a Plymouth address, the Hennepin County complaint lists a Golden Valley address. Meanwhile, Scott County has a Prior Lake address on file. The Maddox couple lived in Prior Lake.
Bruno countered that the Prior Lake police detective was continually kept abreast of Maddox's whereabouts.
"I don't know what he knows," Abrams responded.
Maddox had five relatives in attendance at the hearing, including his mother, who moved to Minnesota from his home state of Indiana to stay with him.
Also in court were two of Ruth Anne Maddox's family members.Maddox was transferred from a jail in Hennepin County to Scott County for the hearing.
Since the hearing, he has posted bail: $100,000 bond in Scott County and $5,000 bond in Hennepin County.
