"Murder suspect's holiday plans nixed"

By Reuben Mees, Examiner Staff Writer

A man charged with aggravated murder won't be spending Thanksgiving on a three-stop trip through Springfield after Logan County Common Pleas judge Mark S. O'Connor placed tighter restrictions on his bond Monday.

Carl W. Hopkins Jr., 46, of Lakeview, who is charged for the Aug. 9 shooting death of James H. Lynch, 48, was released Oct. 20 on a $15,000 bond, which was reduced from an original $500,000 bond.

Mr. Lynch's mother, who came to Monday's hearing with a victim advocate lawyer from the nonprofit Justice League of Ohio, echoed the sentiments of Judge O'Connor when he denied the suspect's travel requests.

"I'm just so thankful he agreed not to let (Mr. Hopkins) go out of the county," said Carol McWilliams, who also lives in Springfield. "His privileges here are enough. I don't even think he needs to be celebrating Thanksgiving." 

In making his ruling, Judge O'Connor said, "Given all the circumstances around the crime itself, I think a minimum of holiday cheer is better; so I am denying the request for out-of-county travel on Thanksgiving." 

The ruling also requires that Mr. Hopkins have no contact with the victim's family and remain in Logan County unless out-of-county travel is approved in advance by the court and that the Logan County Sheriff's Office verify at least once per week that Mr. Hopkins is at his 380 S. Main St., Lakeview, residence.

Mr. Hopkins and his lawyers Marc S. Triplett and Steven Fansler asked that he be allowed to leave at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day to visit his own mother, the mother of his girlfriend, Rebecca Hensley, and his brother, all of whom live in or around Springfield. He would have returned to his residence by 9 p.m., Mr. Fansler said.

On the night in question, Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Lynch reportedly were drinking heavily throughout the day before Mr. Hopkins shot his friend of 33 years in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with a deer slug during a fight. He admitted the bulk of the details in a 911 call minutes after the shooting took place.

The earlier decision to reduce the suspect's bond upset the victim's family and they sought help from The Justice League of Ohio to protect their interests as the case moves toward trial that is currently set for the final week of January.

"In my opinion, it is an unusual circumstance that someone charged with aggravated murder is out on bond," the organization's lawyer Megan Hanke told the court in her defense of the family's position. "I think three locations in one day is a bit extreme and asking a lot of the court."

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