FROM STAFF REPORTS
An Iredell County Superior Court judge on Friday modified the bond conditions of a man charged with killing three people in a crash on Fort Dobbs Road in Statesville.
Prosecutors filed a motion to change the conditions of Austin Ray Harmon’s pre-trial release following his arrest last month.
Harmon, 23, of Phillips Landing, Statesville, was charged with being intoxicated and disruptive by Statesville police on April 29.
At the time of his latest arrest, Harmon was free on $310,000 bond while awaiting trial on charges he caused the deaths of Michael Shane Marlowe, 39, and two of his children, Bentley Marlowe, 5, and Jada Marlowe, 13. Marlowe’s partner, Amy Mills, their daughter Bailey Marlowe, and a family friend, Teagan Murphy, were all seriously injured.
Harmon was driving a vehicle that collided with a golf cart Michael Marlowe was operating on June 13, 2022.
The N.C. Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, charged Harmon with three counts of felony death by motor vehicle, three counts of serious injury by motor vehicle, DWI and reckless driving. Under state sentencing guidelines, he faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
During Friday’s hearing, Judge Greg Horne prohibited Harmon from using, possessing or consuming any alcohol, illegal drug or controlled substance unless lawfully prescribed and in its original container, as a condition of his pre-trial release.
The judge also ordered that Harmon submit to continuous alcohol monitoring. He has seven days to get that alcohol monitor in place.
It’s so sad someone can kill 3 people and pretty much kill 3 more in there life. He don’t care about anyone’s life — young or old. Judge, beware of what you are dealing with. STATESVILLE IS BETTER THAN THIS. PUT HIM AWAY.
That sorry son of a biscuit eater took all those lives and destroyed so much he shouldn’t even be able to drive ever again. My mother was killed by a drunk driver when I was 15 months old. Two of the people in his car were killed as well and he left them all laying at the scene like dead animals and ran of. They had to get the bloodhounds. They tracked him down finally called him, but still how heartless can a human being be.
I’m not sure if I feel this is JUST punishment to let him out on bond with (alleged) “strict supervision.” Than what? What’s next, when is the court date for his hearing? Is there one? I sure hope that he goes to prison for at least 2 years.
What a crock of bull. This is not his first offense, out on bond, really??? What could the judge possibly be thinking? This dude is charged with killing three people. If he injuries or kills someone else, then the judge needs to be put in jail. This is not justice, it is a slap in the face to our community and that judge should be removed.
Out on $310,000 bond after killing three people, then being arrested AGAIN for drinking and carrying on. Bail should have been REVOKED. PERIOD! Evidently, he has NOT learned anything from his actions!
I don’t think the maximum sentence is enough! For EACH count maybe? He’ll have a good long time to think about the lives he took but still be young enough to have a life after…his victims will not!
After this 2nd arrest, why is he still out of jail at all? If killing 3 people while being drunk isn’t a wake up call to him, is a “you can’t do this rule” really gonna make a difference?
I just do not understand our judicial system. How can someone charged with killing someone else get out of jail? I know of 2 people right now out of jail and charged with murder. One of them is charged with first-degree murder. This makes absolutely no sense to me.
Iredell County is BETTER than this! What happened to punishment for breaking the law, killing people, and ignoring all aspects of being a decent human being. Let him serve a sentence dealing with consequences of crimes such as his. All this ‘low bond’, suspended sentences, and ignoring of basic laws for living have to stop!!! Our system is so broken, folks have to change the ones controlling all the lax enforcement (judges, juries, attorneys, etc..)
What is wrong with our system? He should not be out of jail. He is charged with killing three people and causing injuries to two others and he gets to walk the streets free. Something isn’t right with this!
He should have NEVER been allowed out in the first place. Send him to jail for LIFE!!!!
He is charged with drunken driving and killing three people. And out on bond? Should be NO BOND.