MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney says a man accused of setting up crimes from jail has had his bond revoked thanks to a new crime initiative.
Rodrick Harvey, who is in jail on rape and kidnapping charges, was caught planning various violent acts as well as illicit drug sales over the phone.
“By monitoring jail calls, our prosecutor Forrest Edwards was able to find out that he was planning various violent acts as well as illicit drug sales, which could’ve been used to pay for his bond,” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said.
Monitoring jail calls is part of the V11 Fast Track Violence Crime Initiative, which the district attorney’s office started this year.
The Initiative helps to identify the 11 types of offenses Mulroy’s office is giving special priority to.
“We will have no tolerance for violent crime of any kind. Public safety is our job, and we are focusing on the problem defendants – the dangerous ones,” Mulroy said. “We are going to make sure they stay in jail pending trial and that they are punished appropriately.”
Another responsibility for Mulroy’s team is to make bond amounts more reflective of the crimes committed.
“As part of V11, we’re making an extra effort to make sure that bond amounts adequately reflect public safety,” Mulroy said.
An example of this involves Israel Reynoso, who was charged in connection with a shooting in East Memphis earlier this year.
“As part of V11, ADA Sam Winnig successfully opposed any lowering of the bail,” Mulroy said.
Records show that Reynoso’s bond was set at $600,000. He remains in custody.
Mulroy says his office has identified 411 cases as V11 cases so far this year. He added that that’s roughly 15 percent of the felonies that have come into his office.