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T.I. Released on 3 mil Bail. Under House Arrest
Rapper T.I. released on $3 million bond
[Published on: 10/26/07] see also:
After posting a $3 million bond – covered by two cashier’s check and his posh Clayton County property – rapper T.I. was released from federal custody Friday but he will be a prisoner in his home, with limits on who can visit him, until he is tried on federal gun charges.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., appeared at his second bond hearing in a week to find out the conditions of his release. More than the possibility he could flee, U.S. Magistrate Alan Baverman seemed concerned that the rapper or his friends or fans may try to contact witnesses or informants used to bring the federal gun charges against him two weeks ago. Any contact with witnesses, direct or indirect, is forbidden Braverman told Harris several times during the bond hearing. “If any threats befall [them]… the court will be looking to you,” Baverman said. “Yes, your honor,” Harris said. “Do you understand that?” Baverman asked Harris after repeating the warning again. “Yes, your honor,” Harris answered from his seat between two of his four high-profile attorneys.
The magistrate said only Harris’ lawyers could contact victims, witnesses and informants on his behalf. If anyone else does, Harris could be arrested and he could face additional charges. At the end of the hearing, and after completing paperwork, Harris was released directly from the federal courthouse. Braverman said he did not have to return to jail before he could be freed since he was already dressed in street clothes — a grey three-piece suit without a tie. Harris and Atlantic Records provided the cash to cover two-thirds of the bond and the balance was secured by his house. Harris, 27, can continue living with his girlfriend and his children and visitors are limited to three at a time between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Visitors have to be cleared with a criminal background check and they could be searched.
Harris cannot consume alcohol. His house could be searched at any time, as it was before the Friday bond hearing. He cannot have any safes in his house or car; law enforcement officers searching another Harris house in College Park the day of his arrest found a safe containing weapons that would open only after a scan of his fingerprints. Harris will be supervised by Judicial Corrections Services Inc., a company run by former U.S. Marshal and one-time acting Fulton County Sheriff Robert McMichael. Harris’ movements will be monitored by a GPS system.
Harris was before Braverman a week ago but the final decision on bond was put off while the extraordinary bond conditions were developed. “If you violate these conditions, a number of very bad things happen,” Braverman said, explaining he would be arrested and could face additional charges that would add time to his sentence if he is convicted of the gun charges.
The courtroom was packed with relatives, friends and fans.
[By RHONDA COOK – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
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