A Knox County Judge denied a bond reduction in the case of a Galesburg man who has been in prison for the last decade for aggravated sexual assault.
Antoine D. Bolden appeared in Knox County Circuit Court today where his attorney, contracted Public Defender Kenneth Hogan, argued for a reduction in 40-year-old’s $75,000 bond.
The case stems from 2003 allegations that Bolden attacked and sexually assaulted a woman while wielding a knife. He was found guilty in 2004 and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Court files indicate Bolden claimed the trial should have been thrown out because his attorney, former Chief Public Defender James Harrell, had represented the victim in a previous drug case, creating a conflict of interest.
An Appellate Court agreed and the case is now heading to retrial.
In court today, Hogan said Bolden’s bond should be reduced to $5,000 — the amount set after charges were filed in 2003.
Judge Thomas Ewing denied the reduction, adding that he was “somewhat surprised” how low the bond was originally.
Bolden is set to appear in court on Feb. 1 ahead of a tentatively scheduled Feb. 16 pretrial date.
