Local News
Accused killer denied bond again
A man accused of stabbing another man to death in an alleged fight over beer was denied bond for a third time in Whitfield County Superior Court on Friday. Waldo Lopez is scheduled for trial on Aug. 31.
Lopez, 44, of Dalton, is charged with murder in the death of Robert Glenn “Bobby” Miller. Lopez has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 23, the day of the alleged stabbing. Judge Robert Adams denied Lopez bond four days after the incident, and Judge William Boyett denied bond on Friday. Lopez was also denied bond on April 22, said his attorney, public defender Mike McCarthy.
District Attorney Kermit McManus said there is “no hard and fast rule” for a defense attorney in requesting bond, adding an attorney could put his or her client on the list requesting bond “every week” if so desired.
“The case was continued because of a crime lab issue,” McManus said, declining to elaborate. “If we don’t try them (right away), sometimes (the defense) says to the judge we’re not serious about the case (and the client deserves a bond).”
McCarthy said he requested bond because Lopez requested it.
“It’s been three months since his last bond hearing,” he explained. “It’s not unusual to come back and try again if at least a month has gone by.”
Lopez was visiting Miller at Miller’s home on Dude Street in north Dalton when the fight broke out, according to reports. Miller’s son Kyle said the two had “argued” the summer before.
Also in court:
• Mack Odell Gothard, 57, of Dalton, pleaded not guilty to battery and simple battery stemming from an alleged incident involving two students at Westside Middle School. Gothard was a teacher in the “Connections” program there. He is scheduled for trial on Aug. 31.
• Thomas Richard Oliver, 49, of Dalton, pleaded not guilty to three counts of child molestation, aggravated child molestation and one count of attempt at child molestation. He will face a jury trial beginning Aug. 24.
• Elizabeth Renea Whitt, 31, of Tunnel Hill, pleaded not guilty to two counts of child molestation. She is scheduled to appear for trial on Aug. 31.
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Preparing for the big game
Kayla Webb, 15, performs a cheer with the varsity and junior varsity members of the North Murray cheerleading team Wednesday as they walk laps around the track at Murray High School. The team is getting ready for their first game of the season, scheduled for Aug. 20, a scrimmage against Murray High. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
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