A 78-year-old Villager was arrested Wednesday after a judge issued a bench warrant for him after skipping a court date.
John Bynum Raynolds had been scheduled to appear Dec. 28 in Lake County Court. When Raynolds didn’t show up, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Sumter County sheriff’s deputies picked him up Wednesday.
Raynolds had agreed in June in Lake County Court to enter into a pre-trial diversion program following his arrest in February on a marijuana charge. As part of the deal, he agreed to stay out of trouble, pay fines and participate in traffic school. But he did not pay the fines, did not attend traffic school and on Oct. 22 he was arrested in Marion County for driving while license suspended, according to pre-trial diversion revocation order filed in Lake County Court.
He also had been arrested May 30 by Sumter County sheriff’s deputies on a Lake County warrant issued after he skipped a court date on the February marijuana charge. The warrant was issued March 16 after Raynolds failed to show up for a March 10 court date in which he was to answer to a charge of possession of marijuana. He had been arrested on the charge Feb. 22 in Lake County. He later entered the pre-trial diversion program.
Raynolds had been arrested on Valentine’s Day at his Village of Hemingway residence after a domestic disturbance. You can read more about the incident HERE. His wife also filed for an order of protection.
On March 10 in Sumter County Court, Raynolds pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to six months probation and ordered to stay away from drugs and alcohol during his probationary period. He was also fined $250. You can read about the court date HERE.
