Judge revokes bond for Arnold teen charged in shooting death of Avonmore girl
An Arnold teen accused of accidentally shooting and killing his best friend's girlfriend was sent back to jail after a Facebook video allegedly showed him drinking and riding in a car with marijuana.
In the video posted May 7, Cashaan “Dink” Williams was in a car smoking a cigar, drinking Hennessy cognac and possessing what appeared to be marijuana, said Westmoreland County Adult Probation officer Mary Jo Borelli at a hearing Tuesday before Westmoreland County Judge Rita Hathaway.
Williams was charged with homicide in the Nov. 7 killing of Akira Marie Waters, 16, of Avonmore, but his charge was reduced to third-degree murder in January.
His bond was lowered to $100,000 in late March.
He was released April 1 on the condition he not have any drugs or alcohol.
Defense attorney Duke George Jr. said the prosecution couldn't prove when the video was made or posted, and Williams had told him the video was made before the bond conditions were imposed.
“His grandfather went to extreme economic measures. He withdrew money from his retirement account to post this bond,” George said. “He (Williams) was reporting (to probation) as ordered by the court.”
Hathaway did not get to see the video because the district attorney's office hadn't brought a laptop or TV to the hearing to display it. But she revoked Williams' bond when George said there was “no question” it showed Williams drinking even if the date were in question. George said he wanted an expert to evaluate the video to determine exactly when it was made and posted.
Waters' family had seen the video and passed it along to police and prosecutors, who made a copy before it was taken down from Facebook. Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke Williams' bond May 11 and Judge Hathaway signed an order for his arrest that day, George said.
Williams was returned to the Westmoreland County Prison. His trial is scheduled for August.
Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6660, msantoni@tribweb.com or via Twitter @msantoni.
