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HEAR FROM SAYS ONE OF THOSE INMATES NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED. >> THIS IS THE WORST PAIN YOU COULD EVER FEEL. JATARA: MORE THAN 9 MONTHS AFTER MARGARET WILLIAMS’ LOST HER SON, TONY WILLIAMS, THAT PAIN IS STILL FRESH. >> I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO HAVE HIM BACK ANYTHING. JATARA: THE SHOOTING WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO NEAR VICE MAYOR CHRIS SMITHERMAN’S OFFICE IN BOND HILL. THE ALLEGED KILLER WAS CAUGHT DAYS LATER. >> SO IT’S DEVASTATING TO KNOW THAT DEANGELO STONE IS OUT WALKING THESE STREETS, AND MY FAMILY IS STILL SUFFERING, STILL CRYING, STILL TRYING TO ACCEPT THIS JATARA: WHILE AWAITING TRIAL OUT OF HANDCUFFS DEANGELO STONE’S FRIDAY RELEASE COMES AS THE HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER RELEASES SOME NONVIOLENT, LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS TO PREVENT THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF COVID-19 INSIDE THE JAIL. STONE IS FACING MULTIPLE FELONIES, INCLUDING MURDER AND HAVING WEAPONS UNDER DISABILITY. >> DEANGELO WAS ONE. I’VE GOT TWO OTHER CLIENTS, BOTH CHARGED WITH FELONIOUS ASSAULT, THAT ON PAPER THEY WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SHERIFF’S REVIEW, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND THE SITUATION IN BOTH CASES, THEY ARE CERTAINLY GOOD CANDIDATES TO BE RELEASED. JATARA: STONE’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY, JAY CLARK, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE TIMING TO FIGHT FOR A LOWER BOND. THE PROSECUTION OBJECTED, BUT A JUDGE REDUCED STONE’S MILLION DOLLAR BOND TO 10% OF $100,000 I ASKED CLARK IF HIS CLIENT WOULD STILL BE IN JAIL IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. >> THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS I DON’T KNOW. JATARA: WILLIAMS DIDN’T KNOW STONE WAS GETTING OUT. >> I SHOULD HAVE GOT A KNOCK ON THE DOOR OR A PHONE CALL. JATARA: HER 78-YEAR-OLD MOTHER IS WAITING ON RESULTS FROM A CORONAVIRUS TEST, SO SHE UNDERSTANDS THE SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT. >> BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND HUMANITY. I UNDERSTAND JUSTICE. JATARA: CLARK SAYS HIS CLIENT IS INNOCENT AND ISN’T A FLIGHT RISK. WILLIAMS AND HER FAMILY DISAGREE. TONY WILLIAMS WOULD HAVE TURNED 38 THIS YEAR AND HAD 3 CHILD

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There are several hundred fewer inmates in the Hamilton County Jail than this time last week as officials make preparations to fight a potential case of COVID-19 inside the jail.Last week, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil announced that the court of common pleas gave him the ability to release nonviolent, low-level offenders incarcerated at the Hamilton County Jail who are unable to make bond.But defense attorneys have been encouraged and have been pushing to get bonds lowered for other offenders, as well.A Cincinnati mother said the man accused of murdering her son caught an easy break and is now out of jail due to the coronavirus threat. Margaret Williams said she understands the serious health concern that coronavirus poses to the jail population, but she also believes her son's alleged killer was released prematurely. Ronald "Tony" Williams was shot and killed last summer near Vice Mayor Chris Smitherman's office in Bond Hill. Williams would have turned 38 this year. He had three children. The youngest is just two years old.The shooting was caught on camera and days later, Deangelo Stone was arrested and charged in the murder.Stone is charged with murder, having weapons under disability and felonious assault, but he was released from jail after his bond was lowered in a hearing.Stone's attorney Jay Clark said his client was a good candidate to have a reasonable bond. He said his client is innocent, does not have a passport and is not a flight risk. In addition to reviewing cases, defense attorneys were also encouraged to advocate for clients currently incarcerated who the attorneys felt deserved a lower bond. "I have three that fit in that category. Deangelo was one," Clark said. "I've got two other clients, both charged with felonious assault, that on paper they would not be subject to the sheriff's review, but because of the facts of the case and the situation in both cases, they are certainly good candidates to be released."Clark told a judge Stone's million dollar bond should be lowered to ten percent of $100,000. The prosecution objected, but the judge sided with the defense. WLWT asked Clark if Stone would still be in jail if it was not for the measures being taken due to the coronavirus."The short answer to your question is I don't know," Clark said. He added that the purpose of bond is to make sure a defendant shows up for court, and he believes Stone will. His next court date is currently scheduled for May. "I would give anything to have him back," Williams said. "So it's devastating to know that Deangelo Stone is out walking these streets, and my family is still suffering, still crying, still trying to accept this."She said she did not know Stone was getting out last week."He can go hug his mother. Ronald can't hug me anymore," she said. "I should have got a knock on the door or a phone call. It was two days he was out before I was notified by my son from somebody on the street."Williams praised the work of the prosecutor's office and thanked them for fighting for justice over the last nine months. According to the Hamilton County sheriff's office, there are fewer than 890 inmates in the jail as of Wednesday, down from approximately 1400 last week.Sheriff Neil is also working with medical professionals to identify at-risk inmates and prioritize them for release. Visitation at the jail is no longer allowed. New prisoners must have their temperature checked. Anyone newly arrested showing symptoms is to be immediately masked and monitored by medical professionals.