Gunna Denied Bond Again as Judge Rules He Could Still Pose Threat to Witnesses
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Gunna was denied bond a second time and will remain in custody until he faces RICO Act violation charges in court next year.
As 11 Alive News in Atlanta reports, a judge in Fulton County upheld a previous decision from May denying the rapper — real name Sergio Kitchens — bail. Lawyers for Kitchens were unable to successfully argue that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to keep Kitchens in jail until the trial began. But the state, which reportedly provided the judge with more information about their case against Kitchens, successfully convinced the judge that Kitchens still posed a threat and could intimidate a witness.
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“Sergio Kitchens a/k/a Gunna and the defense team are very disappointed in the denial of bond,” the rapper’s lawyers, Don Samuel and Steve Shadow, tell Rolling Stone. “Gunna produced substantial evidence that bond was warranted for him. The prosecution again produced no evidence at all; instead, it chose to rely on vague and non-specific allegations and speculation through the statements of the prosecutor alone. Gunna deserves better from our justice system.”
Kitchens was first denied bond back in May, when prosecutors argued he was in a “command position” in the alleged Young Slime Life gang, according to Fox 5 in Atlanta. Kitchens turned himself in to authorities earlier that month after being accused of conspiring to violate the RICO Act in a massive indictment that also led to the arrest of Young Thug and 26 others allegedly associated with YSL. During the hearing Monday, Kitchens also pleaded not guilty to one charge of violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. The judge has set a trial date for Jan. 9, 2023.
The same day as Kitchens’ first bailing hearing, the judge also delayed a ruling on bond for Young Thug, real name Jeffrey Williams. Williams was denied bond after his initial arrest, but his lawyer is trying to secure an emergency bond over the “inhumane” conditions Williams is allegedly experiencing in jail. The hearing on that was pushed to June 2 as the judge resolved an unspecified “conflict of interest” issue raised by prosecutors. A lawyer for Williams did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
In the indictment, Kitchens is accused of possessing a stolen firearm, as well as possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, hydrocodone, and marijuana. Kitchens and Williams were also involved in a traffic stop that included a second car that allegedly contained “numerous weapons with high capacity magazines,” which the indictment calls “an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.” And like Williams, prosecutors used Kitchens’ music against him in the indictment, citing the lyrics from several songs they claim also constitute “an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.”
On top of all that, prosecutors argued in court that Kitchens was “not just an associate” of YSL but a “documented gang member” and “one of the bosses” with the power to “direct their troops into combat.” Kitchens’ lyrics were brought up, too, with prosecutors reportedly highlighting references to weapons and violence. The rapper’s previous arrests were also used as a reason to deny him bond.
Ultimately, the judge sided with prosecutors and denied Kitchens bond, citing the possible “danger to witnesses and other folks tied to this.” However, the judge did say he would consider bond for good cause in the future.
This story was updated 7/7/22 at 3:07 p.m. ET after Gunna was denied bail a second time.
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