Holly Bobo: Judge sets January plea deal deadline

By Omer Yusuf
The Jackson Sun

SAVANNAH — Judge C. Creed McGinley has again extended the deadline he set for the prosecution and defense to come to a plea agreement for John Dylan Adams, one of three men charged in the kidnapping, rape and killing of 20-year-old nursing student Holly Bobo.

The prosecution and defense had not come to an agreement when the Hardin County Court re-convened at 11 a.m. Monday morning. McGinley has now given opposing counsel until Jan. 22 to reach an agreement.

McGinley said Monday morning if the prosecution and defense didn't have a negotiated plea by Jan. 22, the negotiated plea would come off the table and he would set deadlines for motions in the trial.

Other possible options in this case are Adams pleading to the indictments after the Jan. 22 deadline or nolle prosequi (Latin for "we shall no longer prosecute," which is a declaration made to the judge by a prosecutor in a criminal case, meaning the case against the defendant would be dropped).

At Adams' previous status hearing Thursday, McGinley said both sides had made substantial progress toward a negotiated plea agreement and extended the deadline until Monday morning. McGinley said Monday no progress had been made over the weekend between the parties.

Don Franks, the Bobo family pastor and spokesman, said he will not comment on the case until it is resolved.

Dylan Adams' defense attorney Matt Maddox said, "they are looking forward to proceeding on with the case" and did not comment when asked about the possiblity of taking a plea deal.

Adams appeared for a status hearing Monday morning at the Hardin County Courthouse. The state previously filed a motion to no longer seek the death penalty or life without parole against Adams.

Adams' trial is scheduled to begin in May.

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