Garrett appears at bond hearing, judge to rule later

After a long day in court, Superior Court Judge Andy Spivey announced that he will rule on Brant Garrett's bond request at a later date. Garrett, former George Washington Carver Freshman Academy teacher and coach in the Coffee County School System who was arrested and charged with child molestation last month, had a bond hearing Friday.

On February 23, 2022, the GBI received a request from the Coffee County School System Police Department to conduct a child molestation investigation. Preliminary information indicates that Brant Garrett engaged in sexual activity with students at George Washington Carver.

Last month, the GBI arrested and charged Garrett, age 25, with two counts of Child Molestation and two counts of Sexual Battery.  Garrett was arrested in Statesboro. He has remained in the Coffee County Jail ever since.

In Friday's hearing, multiple people, including family members, testified as character witnesses. The state didn’t call any witnesses. The victims denied speaking but asked the state to relay how they felt – they did not want him to receive a bond and feared he might do something similar if released.

The state asked Judge Spivey to deny Garrett a bond. However, prosecutors did ask that if a bond was granted that Garrett be required to wear an ankle monitor and not be allowed to be around minors.

Garrett's attorney stated that Garrett's net worth was around $20,000 and asked that if Judge Spivey granted a bond that it be “reasonable.”The hearing lasted several hours. After the proceedings ended, Judge Spivey said would consider all statements and make a ruling later.

Addendum: Garrett was granted bond on Monday, April 25, 2022, in the amount of $50,000. He will not have to wear ankle monitor but he is prohibited from being around children under the age of 16.