Bond denied in murder case
Russellville Police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery and ABI investigator Brian Faulkner escort Angel Campos Nava to a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon.
A bond has been denied for the man accused of beating and murdering a Russellville woman last Friday.
At a hearing on Wednesday, Franklin County District Judge Paula McDowell denied the bond of 33-year-old Angel Campos Nava, of Russellville, who was charged with capital murder on Monday.
Nava is accused of severely beating and attacking 25-year-old Lesley Hope Plott, who was found dead outside the Good Shepherd Catholic Church on Jackson Avenue in Russellville at 1:30 a.m. Friday.
According to preliminary autopsy reports, Plott suffered deep lacerations to her neck and was badly beaten.
Reports state Nava also suffered from what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds and had been under guarded custody in intensive care at Huntsville Hospital until he was released from hospital care Wednesday morning.
Officials said Nava was transported from the hospital to the Franklin County Courthouse for the bond hearing.
At the hearing, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the violent nature of the crime was one of the reasons the state was requesting a denial of bond in the case.
“This was a very, very violent offense and we feel his release would pose a danger to the community,” Rushing said.
He also alleged that the state had reason to believe Nava was in the country illegally and could pose a flight risk and that, because of his alleged self-inflicted wounds, he was a suicide risk.
“We ask that the bond be denied based on all three of these factors,” Rushing said.
Defense attorney Freddy Rubio, from Birmingham, was present at the hearing and requested bond so his client could adequately prepare for trial.
“My client is facing a capital offense and will need to meet with his counsel to prepare a defense,” Rubio said.
He also said Nava would not be a flight risk since he has resided in Franklin County for more than 10 years.
“This is where his family resides, and he has no ties to any other country,” Rubio said. “This is where he works. This is where his friends and family work. He is not a flight risk.”
After listening to both sides, McDowell denied bond in the case and said after Nava was processed through the city jail, he would be transported to the Franklin County Jail where he would remain throughout the duration of the case.
“We are pleased by the judge’s decision to deny bond in this case,” Rushing said. “Because it was a violent offense, we feel it was in the best interest of the community for Mr. Nava to remain in custody.”
