WASHINGTON — A man accused of first-degree murder was released on bail last week, a decision that left many surprised.
“In my 39 years in police work I’ve never seen someone involved in a home invasion and homicide released like this back out on the street,” Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger told NBC Washington.
Dion Sobotker was charged with first degree murder and robbery tied to the death of 26-year-old Jonathan Harris, who was strangled during a Dec. 6, 2014, robbery at the home he shared with his mother, Patricia Harris, near Silver Spring.
Sobotker had been held without bond since his arrest on Christmas Eve last year. But on July 2, Sobotker’s attorneys asked a judge to review his bond status, according to Montgomery County Circuit Court records.
Circuit Judge Gary Bair granted that request on July 15, releasing Sobotker on a $500,000 unsecured bond. According to NBC Washington, Bair said: “I don’t believe the bail system is fair when you set a bond in an amount that no one can make.”
Then, Sobotker didn’t report to authorities over the weekend, prompting a search. He failed to show up to get fitted for a GPS monitor, among other bond violations, and was eventually taken into custody on Monday.
Bair revoked Sobotker’s bond at a new hearing on Tuesday.
Bair claimed that he had he had bad information at the time he granted the initial bail last week. He said that he would have never granted bail had he known about Sobotker’s criminal record, a federal gun charge, embezzlement charge and the seven times he failed to appear for court.
Bair went on to say that it was fortunate that nothing happened during the time Sobotker was free.
In 2010, Jonathan Harris had participated in a kidney-transplant exchange that was featured on the “Today” show. His kidney failed when he was 12. A donation by his brother also failed, leading him to join the kidney exchange.
Patricia Harris said she was stunned when she found out that Sobotker had been released.
“It felt like [Sobotker]’s freedom was more important than my son’s death,” Patricia Harris said.
Back behind bars, Sobotker’s five-day trial is scheduled begin Dec. 7.
Two others were arrested in connection to Jonathan Harris’ death. Samantha Parker and Latoya Morgan also have been also charged with first-degree murder and are awaiting trial. Latoya Morgan pleaded guilty and agreed to testify at trial of the two other defendants. Morgan’s charges have been cleared.
Montgomery County police said Parker was Harris’ ex-girlfriend and alleged that she had threatened to physically harm him. Police linked the three to the killing through surveillance video that captured Parker, Morgan and Sobotker using Harris’ credit card just after his murder.
WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report