Judge denies bond for man accused in Opera assault
ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - A judge denied bond for the man accused of sexually assaulting a woman inside a popular Atlanta nightclub is expected to be back in court on Thursday.
Dominique Williams' defense attorney will ask the judge for a bond for his client.
Williams is accused of sexually assaulting Jasmine Eiland at Atlanta's Opera Nightclub.
An Atlanta police detective testified in court on Wednesday that Williams slipped something into Eiland's drink.
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Prosecutors also presented testimony Wednesday that Williams allegedly raped a second woman while they were on a date last September. That woman came forward after learning of the alleged sexual assault at Opera.
The defense attorney painted sexual assault suspect Dominique Williams as a father, army veteran and hard worker as both a Lyft driver and a security guard.
“He is a family guy. He takes care of his 6-year-old, as well as his grandmother who is 78 and his 11-year-old,” said Shequel Ross, attorney for Williams.
She asked a Fulton County judge to grant Williams bond pending his aggravated sodomy trial.
So many people are following this case after a video of Williams and Jasmine Eiland went viral. Several people called Atlanta police after they say they watched the assault live on Facebook. But Williams' attorney said this case isn't as it appears.
“I would tell people they don't know the full story. We are conducting a full-fledged investigation,” Ross said. “She has a financial interest. The next day she hired an attorney and is alleging to sue the nightclub.”
Williams and Eiland both said they have received threats, particularly on social media.
Prosecutors said there may be a third victim, but the defense maintains what happened at Club Opera was consensual.
The judge listened to both sides and denied bond citing a second woman now coming forward alleging Williams raped her last fall, as one of her reasons.
The ruling pleased Sabrina Peterson with the group Justice for Jasmine. She said she got started protesting at Club Opera because so many people doubt Eiland's story.
“The judge did exactly what we needed her to do. To send a message to Atlanta that rape culture is not okay,” said Peterson.
But the no bond ruling upset the defense.
“My client is an Army vet, served his community...we are highly, highly disappointed,” Ross said.
Williams now faces a rape charge in connection to the second attack.