BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—Crystal Richardson, who calls Bonneau home, was inside her car driving recently when she got a phone call that hit her like a ton of bricks. The man charged in connection with her son and his best friend’s death had been released from jail.
“I had to pull over on the side of the road. I dropped the phone,” stated Richardson. “I don’t feel like the justice system is helping us in the way that they’re supposed to be helping us.”
Over the summer, her son, Deandre Richardson, 16, and his best friend, Leonardo Suarez-Perez, 15, both of Summerville, died of blunt force injuries as a result of a fatal accident on Highway 162 in Hollywood.
“If I knew it was going to be the last day I saw my son, I would’ve said more. I wouldn’t done more,” stated Richardson. “He was also a very talented artist. He just really enjoyed life. He was in the ROTC. He wanted to be in the military.”
Bernis Webb Jr. of Charleston was arrested a few days later in connection with the crime. He’s charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Each charge carries a 25 year sentence. He’s also accused of filing a false police report.
In mid-November, a circuit court judge set bond at $150,000, and Webb was released from jail not long after. Although he has yet to be convicted of any crime, Richardson believes the Lowcountry community is safer with him behind bars awaiting trial.
“It [the situation] makes me feel robbed because I have a two-year-old who’ll never see the kind of brother she had,” stated Richardson. “Why should he get the opportunity to spend the holidays with his family when mine isn’t going to be here to do the same? He’ll only be here in spirit. I’ll be at the graveyard while he and his family are having dinner around the table.”
While the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires that bail not be excessive and be used to punish a person for being suspected of committing a crime, Richardson believes Webb’s bond still should’ve been set higher.
“They’re not even charging him with reckless driving. The judge asked the police officer if they found any alcohol in his car, and he said, ‘yes.’ He should’ve also been charged with open container.”
However, according to Major Eric Watson with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office that’s not likely to happen.
“The current charges will remain the same with no upgrades, unless the Solicitor’s Office chooses to indict him on additional charges,” explained Watson. “The open containers and his driving behavior during this incident are additional evidence that will be used against him as the judicial process proceeds.”
Right before that deadly accident involving Richardon’s son and his best friend, witnesses reportedly told deputies they observed Webb driving recklessly while attempting to pass another vehicle. After striking the two teens, deputies say Webb then fled the scene.
“Everybody makes mistakes, but he chose to make that mistake, and he needs to learn the consequences of his mistake,” stated Richardson. “As much as I try to hate him, I can’t hate him. I hate the decision he made and the stupidity in this that could’ve been prevented.”
After granting Webb bond less than a month ago, the judge ordered that he not get behind the wheel of a vehicle pending the outcome of his trial. However, that provides little comfort or relief to a mother still grieving the loss of her young son.
“You can’t stop somebody from doing something if they want to do it,” stated Richardson. “What if he doesn’t listen to the judge, and he gets behind the wheel and this happens to more families?”
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