Aniah's law keeps Coley jailed

In the first hearing of its kind in Escambia County (Ala.), a Mobile man charged with rape I, sodomy I, domestic violence assault II, domestic violence strangulation and interfering with a domestic violence call was ordered to be held without bond under Alabama's Aniah's Law.

Ronald Gregory Coley, 34, 207 Hillcrest Road, was charged with attacking the same woman that he assaulted that got him sent to prison. He was released from prison on March 28, 2023, under the state's early release program after being sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 8, 2021, on domestic violence charges against the same woman he was arrested for raping and assaulting on April 7, 2023.

At his original bond hearing on the new charges, District Attorney Steve Billy asked District Judge Eric Coale set a 'no bond' on Coley based on his violent history. Judge Coale issued the no-bond ruling and then scheduled a second hearing April 19 to consider a bond under Aniah's Law.

Prior to the passage of the law in 2021 defendants could only be denied bond if they were accused of capital murder or if they violated provisions of a previous bond.

The bills passed by the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate amended the 1901 constitution of Alabama that stated "all persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and that excessive bail shall not in any case be required".

Aniah's Law was named after Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year old student who was kidnapped and murdered in Auburn in October, 2019. The suspect in that case, Ibraheed Yazeed, was out on bond at the time of Blanchard's murder on bond on kidnapping and attempted murder charges.

Aniah's Law amended the constitution to allow prosecutors to ask the judge for a hearing to request they deny bond. It's the judge's discretion on whether or not to have the hearing.

During the April 19 hearing under Aniah's Law, Judge Coale ordered Coley to be held without bond until his trial on the latest charges.

In the most recent case, the victim stated that Coley had driven her to Atmore on April 7 and when they arrived he became enraged and dragged her into a wooded lot and physically and sexually assaulted her. She was able to get free and drive herself back to Mobile. Records noted during the assault, Coley is accused of kicking the victim in the abdomen, breaking her ribs.

Records also show that once Coley was released from prison through the early release program he was supposed to see a probation officer and be fitted with an ankle monitor, which he never did.

Judge Coale had also ordered Coley removed from the courtroom twice during bond hearings for cursing and threatening staff inside in courtroom.