Caledonia Argus

Hokah woman faces charges after firing gun

Posted: 5/13/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

A Hokah woman who allegedly fired a gun at her daughterís friend has been charged with second degree assault and making terroristic threats.

Ronda Bond, 47, was arrested on May 7. Around 3 p.m. that day, local authorities were summoned to Hokah after a 911 report of shots fired on Ash Street. When police arrived, Bond handed over a loaded .45 caliber handgun and was placed under arrest.

Houston County deputies spoke with Michael Johnson, 21, who was staying at the residence of Bondís daughter, Jolene Harris. Johnson told authorities that he was staying with Harris for a few days because his car broke down. On May 7, Bond had entered Harrisí trailer, become confrontational and directed a number of racial epithets at Johnson, who is African-American.

The next day, Harris told Johnson that sheíd give him a ride when she returned from work, and that he could remain in the trailer until then. After Harris left, Bond arrived and again became confrontational, directing racial epithets at Johnson and telling him to leave the trailer.

Bond then told him that she was going to get a gun, and that if he was still in the trailer when she returned, she was going to shoot him.

Bond left, and Johnson immediately phoned Harris at her place of employment, and made other ride arrangements. Suddenly the door to the trailer, which heíd locked, opened and in walked Bond, along with Harrisí two-year old daughter. Bond again told Johnson that he needed to leave the trailer, and then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at him. He pushed the gun away from her, but Bond grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him outside.

Johnson began running away from the trailer, at which point he heard a gunshot sail through the trees around him. He continued to run, and asked the first person he encountered to call 911.

Law enforcement authorities also interviewed Bond, who stated that she was aware her daughter had allowed Johnson to stay in the residence, but that she disapproved of the arrangement. She admitted confronting Johnson on both May 6 and May 7 and telling him to leave, and told authorities that she had fired the gun once, straight in the air, while standing on the trailerís steps. Her intent, she said, was to scare Johnson into leaving.

While interviewing her, authorities noticed a strong odor of alcohol and administered a breath test. The test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .201, and Bond was transported to the Crisis Receiving Unit in Rochester as a result.

If convicted, Bond faces a maximum penalty of 12 years imprisonment and/or $24,000 in fines.

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