Court approves limited bond modification for Rice case; victim asks for anger-management condition
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Summary
The court modified bond conditions to allow victim contact with the defendant on the condition the defendant complete anger-management classes and the juvenile victim expressed she wanted contact only if that condition is met.
During the April 16 motions calendar, the court considered a bond-modification request in the case captioned in part as related to Byra Rice and a juvenile victim, Morgan Knuckles. The parties reached a consent agreement for a modification of the no-contact condition.
Prosecutor Aaron Tipton placed the victim on the record and the victim, Morgan Knuckles, testified she wished to have contact with her mother only if the mother completed anger-management classes. After confirming the testimony was voluntary and without promises or threats, the court directed that the requested bond modification permit contact but limit it to “no violent contact” and require completion of anger-management counseling. Judge Tammy Long Hayward said she wanted counseling in place within 14 days and encouraged the probation office and counsel to help identify approved programs. The judge emphasized the court’s interest in victim safety and urged caregivers and the defendant to prioritize services that reduce future conflict.
Why it matters: The modification balances the victim’s expressed preference to resume contact with documented safety steps the court ordered. The court emphasized victim safety and ordered a narrow, condition-driven change rather than a full removal of contact protections.
Next steps: The prosecutors and defense counsel will file the written order reflecting the bond modification; the court asked probation and counsel to help the family identify anger-management resources and asked that the condition be addressed within two weeks.
