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July 30, 2007
DNA "hit" case resolved with sentence and sexual offender designation
State Attorney Steve Meadows announces the conviction, and sentencing, in
Bay County Circuit Court, of Eddie Charles Bonds, on a charge of Attempted
Sexual Battery with Great Force.
Bonds, 45, was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by 10 years
sexual offender probation. He was designated as a sexual offender and will
have electronic monitoring while on community-based supervision. Current law
requires that Bonds have an residence established, in an area in which
sexual offenders are not prohibited, before he can be released to probation.
History of the case: On March 16, 2000, a 70-year old Cove homemaker went to
see a doctor complaining of falling in the yard. When pressed, the victim
revealed that a man had come into her house and raped her on the night
before. A sexual assault kit was performed, including swabbing for DNA. The
victim would not allow photographs to be taken nor would she speak with male
detectives about the incident. Detectives confirmed that the victim had been
diagnosed with dementia but continued to pursue all leads. Eventually, the
investigation was inactivated; but not before the DNA sample was sent to the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
"It has been a long and difficult journey to get to this point of
accountability," said Meadows. "There were several times when everyone
involved in this case could have given up. But the Panama City Police
Department didn’t give up, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement didn’t
give up, and we didn’t give up."
In July, 2002, the Panama City Police Department was informed that the DNA
submitted had matched a DNA sample in their database. That DNA belonged to
Eddie Charles Bonds. When officers went to the home of the victim, they
discovered that she had died some seven months prior. When the detectives
discussed the case with the physician who had performed the sexual assault
kit; he stated he didn’t know how a person could "obtain full penetration;"
even in light of the presence of semen on the swab. Bonds was arrested and
charged with the sexual battery.
In July, 2003, Bonds was declared to be incompetent to proceed due to a
mental health diagnosis. He was returned, from the state hospital in
February, 2005, but was declared to be incompetent, again, in August, 2005.
He returned, in November, 2006, and has been incarcerated since.
"The death of the victim caused a number of problems," said Meadows. "We
were forced to rely upon her statements, given to the doctor for the purpose
of medical treatment, in order to prove several of the elements of this
offense. When it became apparent, due to the judge’s rulings, that some of
those statements would not be admitted in the trial; we worked toward this
resolution.
"This has been a very difficult case but certainly a case worth pursuing. I
want to commend the Panama City Police Department and my staff for
continuing to fight for this victim–even after her death."
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