Charges against two 18-year-olds were bound to the Grand Jury after a 76-year-old man told of being the victim of a home invasion in East Chattanooga.
General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom left the bond for Nakia McMillan, Jr., at $200,000 and for Anthony Watkins at $175,000.
Det. Wilbert McLean testified that Watkins is a validated member of The Cutthroats and McMillan is associated with the gang.
Richard Benford said he was fixing breakfast at his residence on Fairleigh Street when the doorbell rang about 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 16. He said after he opened both doors, he found McMillan and Watkins standing in front of him. He said a third individual put a silver revolver to his head and ordered him back inside and on the floor.
He said he was asked about guns and money and he told them he did not have any. He said, with his head covered while lying on the floor, he could hear 4-5 people running around his house searching for valuables.
Mr. Benford said he could hear them removing his flatscreen TVs from the walls.
He said after 35 minutes to an hour, the robbers spotted police outside. They ran out the back door after one shouted, "Po Po," he said.
Mr. Benford said he had opened the door because his nephew, Ronald Jones, had just left and he thought he had forgotten something and come back. He said it was the nephew, who lives just down the street, who had dialed 911.
During the incident, he said his cellphone was taken and his coffee table was broken. He said three of his four flatscreen TVs were taken off the walls, but all were still in the house, including a couple propped against the kitchen door.
Det. McLean said McMillan claimed that police started chasing him as he was walking down the street listening to music in the rain.
He said Watkins initially denied being involved, but later admitted being part of the robbery squad. He said he did not know the names of two others involved, including the gunman.
Mr. Benford said he had seen the group that robbed him before "walking up and down the street. They stay behind me."
The mother of Watkins said he is active in his church. She said she had heard of The Cutthroats, but did not believe her son was involved with the gang. She said he is from another part of town, but has a cousin in that neighborhood.
Neither individual has a prior criminal record.
Carl Huskins was the prosecutor.
Defense attorneys are Rich Heinsman and Chris Jones.