Felon who skipped trial date in jail

Published 11:01 am Wednesday, April 2, 2014

A convicted felon who failed to show at his aggravated assault trial in March was in jail this morning.
Jeremy Austin, 26, whose last known address was on Gibson Road, was arrested Tuesday afternoon by Warren County deputies during a traffic stop on South Frontage Road, Sheriff Martin Pace said.
Austin, who is represented by Eugene Perrier, had been on the lam since he didn’t show up for his trial March 10 on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, District Attorney Ricky Smith has said.
Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick began the jury selection process, but the trial was postponed after Austin didn’t appear in court.
No jury was selected for the trial, Smith said.
Patrick issued an arrest warrant for Austin.
Austin is accused of shooting James Ward, 36, in the thigh on Nov. 22, 2010, on the front porch of Ward’s home on Filmore Street, according to court records.
Ward initially told police he was shot during a robbery.
A Warren County grand jury declined to indict Austin for armed robbery in July 2011.
Ward was taken to River Region Medical Center before being flown to University Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
Austin, who was on parole for a 2006 conviction for burglary and grand larceny conviction at the time of the shooting, was initially arrested and charged after reporting to his parole officer, police have said.
Austin will be held without bail in the Warren County Jail until his new trial date.
A date for trial has not been reset, the District Attorney’s Office said this morning.

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