A request for reduced bond was denied for the former elementary school teacher charged with the 2011 armed robberies of the Ooltewah-Ringgold Road Bi-Lo grocery store and the Hamilton Place Regal Cinema.
According to police, Christopher Scott Reed and his friend from college, Ulysses M. Perry, forced employees of the cinema into a theater and zip tied them to cup holders of seats.
Police said Reed and Perry then waited until a manager arrived and told her at gunpoint to retrieve money for them out of the theater's safe.
Victims described the two armed robbers as "very nice and polite."
They "answered the manager's questions with 'yes sir' and 'no sir' answers" and "would not take anything from the victims."
The duo allegedly did the same thing at Bi-Lo, but left after an hour because no manager appeared who could open the safe. Here, police said they took several cell phones of employees but left with no money.
Defense attorney Bill Speek called Reed's parents in as witnesses in the Monday morning bond hearing in the courtroom of Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.
Reed's mother testified that her son was working on a master's degree from UTC at the time. She said he had graduated from Lane College with an undergraduate degree in elementary education.
She also told the court he worked at Hardy Elementary School.
Perry was the third witness brought. Initially, Perry told police that he and Reed were both involved. Perry also received a plea deal for 10 years in prison.
Because of this, Perry was warned that he could be prosecuted for saying anything contradicting his statement to police.
Attorney Speek said, "It's come to my attention that prior to you pleading guilty, you had been telling people you had been lying about Christopher Reed. Did Christopher Reed participate in these crimes?"
However, Perry used his fifth amendment right not to incriminate himself and said he preferred not to answer the question.
Currently, Reed is scheduled for trial on Sept. 9.