Emergency bond hearing for man mistakenly released from Lee County Jail

Reporter: Taylor Petras
Published: Updated:
Craig Williams, 42. (Credit: LCSO)
Craig Williams, 42. (Credit: LCSO)

An emergency bond hearing was held for a man who was mistakenly released from jail Tuesday.

Craig Williams, 42, was mistakenly released from Lee County Jail on a $12,500 surety bond, instead of the $125,000 cash only bond, which was ordered by Judge Devin George at his first appearance before the court.

Williams was ordered to be held on the cash only bond because he has family members in the bond business. But somehow, Williams used a bonds-person to put up only 10 percent of that bail to be released.

MORE: Lee County Jail releases man by mistake leaving the victim in panic

Judge Joseph Fuller said in court Wednesday a mistake was made by the jail and ordered Williams’ bond to be revoked. Williams was escorted out of the courtroom by deputies, without handcuffs, and is being held with no bond. But, a cash bond can still get him released.

“I understand what’s going on,” Williams said before the court. “I surrender humbly and willfully.”

Williams was arrested for choking and pistol-whipping Shaquita Hutto after an argument with the victim. His suspected actions were caught on camera.

“Next, before I even knew it the guy had took a gun out and he hit me with it,” Hutto said. “Oh my God, blood was everywhere.”

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.