A Lynchburg judge Friday denied bond for a man accused of murder in the slaying of 24-year-old Michael Blanchard Jr. at a Candlers Mountain Road motel in April.
Marcious Cousins, 25, of Locust Grove, is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Cousins is accused of killing Blanchard in the parking lot of the Super 8 on April 20.
Andrew Childress, Cousins’ lawyer, asked for a bond to be set, arguing that Cousins was not a flight risk since he turned himself in to police. Childress also said Cousins was not a risk to the community because he didn’t go looking for a fight that night — Blanchard attacked him first.
Childress said Cousins could stay out on bond at his mother’s home in Concord or with his fiancée and their two children at her home in Orange County. He also noted Cousins had a job with Alliance Industrial Corp. in Lynchburg.
However, Judge Leyburn Mosby questioned how he was making the more than two-hour commute to Lynchburg if he was living in Orange County.
As for his relationship with his fiancée, there was also testimony at Cousins’ preliminary hearing that he came to the Super 8 that night to pick up a Heritage High School student he had been dating.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jeff Bennett argued against bond, noting Cousins had been convicted of cocaine possession in Orange County in February, but never reported to his probation officer.
Bennett also criticized Childress’ hints at a self-defense claim.
“He shot an unarmed man in the back” from the protection of his car, the prosecutor said.
According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, the confrontation started as a case of mistaken identity when one of Blanchard’s friends flagged down the sedan Cousins was driving, thinking he knew the occupants.
After the incident escalated into an argument, Blanchard approached the driver’s door.
Charles Scott, Blanchard’s friend, testified Cousins took a pistol from the passenger and shot Blanchard for no reason.
Two people inside the car, however, testified Blanchard punched Cousins in the head through the driver’s window. One passenger said it appeared to him as if Blanchard was reaching in his pants for a gun when Cousins fired.
Mosby denied the request for bond.
“I think you’re a danger to the community and I think it’s a danger to you,” the judge told Cousins. “I don’t know if there’s anyone out there who wants to get retribution.”
His Aug. 25 trial date was also postponed Friday. A new date will be set in early September.
He is being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail until his trial.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement