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Trammell can’t get judge to ease home detention rules

The Rev. Raleigh Trammell pleaded not guilty to 51 felony counts today, Jan. 20, 2011 in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. In this photo the former Southern Christian Leadership Conference chairman Trammell speaks as Rev. Charles Steele, right, looks on during a news conference where it was announced that Steele is replacing the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth as president of the SCLC, Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, in Atlanta.

JOHNN BAZEMORE/STF The Rev. Raleigh Trammell pleaded not guilty to 51 felony counts today, Jan. 20, 2011 in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. In this photo the former Southern Christian Leadership Conference chairman Trammell speaks as Rev. Charles Steele, right, looks on during a news conference where it was announced that Steele is replacing the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth as president of the SCLC, Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, in Atlanta.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Raleigh Trammell was indicted on 51 charges, one count of grand theft and 25 counts each of forgery and tampering with government records. Last year, he denied misusing public funds. Trammell, 73, surrendered one day after a nationwide arrest warrant was issued.

Montgomery County Jail Raleigh Trammell was indicted on 51 charges, one count of grand theft and 25 counts each of forgery and tampering with government records. Last year, he denied misusing public funds. Trammell, 73, surrendered one day after a nationwide arrest warrant was issued.

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Rev. Raleigh Trammell was arraigned and entered a a not guilty plea in 51 felony count indictments in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim O'Connell presiding 1/20/11.

Staff photo by Photo by Jim Witmer Rev. Raleigh Trammell was arraigned and entered a a not guilty plea in 51 felony count indictments in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim O'Connell presiding 1/20/11.

By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer Updated 12:05 AM Friday, January 21, 2011

DAYTON — The Rev. Raleigh Trammell pleaded not guilty on Thursday to 51 felony counts, but failed to get Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Tim O’Connell to loosen the rules of electronically monitored home confinement that is a condition of his bail.

Defense attorney Candace C. Crouse said Trammell, 74, needs to be permitted to leave his house to work and to go to Cincinnati to see his attorneys.

A defense motion filed with the court said Trammell has a medical condition that would make a jail stay risky. The motion asked that Trammell be removed from home detention or be given a curfew because he leads services at his Central Missionary Baptist Church, visits the sick and helps run a restaurant from 10 a.m. to  8 p.m. six days a week.

Assistant County Prosecutor Ward Barrentine objected, saying Crouse was arguing “that Mr. Trammel is too infirm to be a flight risk, but at the same time he works every single day including weekends.”

O’Connell said the terms of bail will remain unchanged pending a Feb. 2 scheduling conference with Judge Barbara P. Gorman, who was assigned the case.

Trammell did not speak during the arraignment.

He is out of jail on $10,000 bond. He faces one count of grand theft and 25 counts each of forgery and tampering with government records. The charges are third-, fourth- and fifth-degree felonies carrying penalties of as much as five years in prison.

As former chairman of Dayton Southern Christian Leadership Conference and executive director of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Trammell is accused of stealing nearly $50,000 intended to feed needy elderly people between 2005-2010. Montgomery County had contracted with the SCLC and IMA for the home-delivered meals program. It was funded with Montgomery County Human Services Levy money.

Crouse questioned why electronic home monitoring is necessary since Trammell is a longtime civil rights leader in Dayton and his family and home are here.

“I don’t know why they consider him a flight risk,” she said.

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