Bill advances to bar convicted defendants from leaving county jail on bond until sentencing

Summary

SB 358 would require immediate revocation or modification of bond when a defendant is convicted at trial, so the person is held without bond in the county jail until sentencing; sponsor described the bill as closing a loophole exposed in a recent Riley County case and said victims and local prosecutors supported the change.

The Senate reported SB 358 favorably after sponsor remarks and committee testimony. Senator Warren described the measure as intended to prevent convicted defendants who had been free on bond during trial from walking out of a courtroom after conviction and encountering victims or witnesses.

"If the defendant during the trial had been released on bond, upon the conviction, the bond shall be immediately revoked, and that person shall be held without bond in the county jail until sentencing," Warren said. He cited a Riley County case in August in which, he said, a person convicted on numerous counts left the courtroom after conviction; the sponsor framed the bill as closing that gap in current law.

Warren said the committee heard from the Riley County attorney and from victim-witnesses at the hearing; he and colleagues expressed support for ensuring convicted defendants remain in custody until sentencing in serious felony cases. The committee moved the bill forward and reported it favorably for passage.

What's next: SB 358 was reported favorably by the committee and moves forward in the legislative process as reported.