Bond reduced for former church deacon accused of spying on minor
Christopher Collins at his initial court hearing on Tuesday.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A former deacon at a Hixson church made his first court appearance Tuesday.
Christopher Collins was charged last week with nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
The main question in front of Hamilton County Judge Larry Ables on Tuesday morning was whether or not to reduce the bond of Christopher Collins.
Collins’ bond heading into this hearing was $450,000.
However, his attorney, public defender Scott Davis, argued with that was set too high.
Davis said, “This is a very high bond. I read that somebody in Chattanooga had attempted first murder charges of a police officer and got $225,000. This man is no risk at all.”
That comparison was one of the main factors Davis says warranted a decrease in Collins’ bond.
An affidavit states that his wife discovered pictures and videos taken with a hidden camera inside of their bathroom of a minor who was babysitting for them.
He was subsequently arrested, and Abba’s House, the church where he served as deacon, removed him quickly from that role.
Prosecutor Lee Sparks argued that Collins’ bond should come with tight restrictions on where he could go.
Sparks said, “These accusations are serious and disturbing. The State is certain that if he is able to make bond, that he have no contact with any of the other parties involved in this case.”
These protective order restrictions were granted, meaning if Collins were to bond out of jail, he would not be allowed to return to Abba’s House, or the victim’s or his wife’s home.
However, Judge Ables decided to lower the bond in the case to $25,000, after Davis argued Collins has no criminal history, and is not a flight risk.
It was argued as well the charges at this time would fall under a Class D Felony, which comes with 8-12 years in prison per charge if ultimately convicted, but not in the range to warrant the original bond.
Judge Ables said “These charges are very serious charges. I am a little concerned that the bond might be on the high side, and this is not something that I ever say as the person who set the highest bond in Hamilton County in the past.”
That highest ever bond was $5,000,000 for Jason Chen, who was convicted last year of the 2022 murder of Jasmine Pace.
Collins waived his right to a preliminary hearing, as this case is just in its beginning stages.
Sparks said, “The investigation is ongoing. I do not know if there will be more charges, but I am speaking with the investigator.”
The next step in this case is that it has been bound over to a grand jury to decide whether or not to indict Collins.
If indicted, his case would head to the Hamilton County Criminal Court.
