Judge Slightly Increases Bond For Janet Hinds; Increases Drug Testing

  • Thursday, July 11, 2019

Judge Don Poole on Thursday morning increased the bond for the woman charged in the hit-and-run traffic death of Officer Nicholas Galinger and increased the drug testing.

Judge Poole found that Janet Hinds had violated terms of her bond by not calling in to the probation office and by testing positive for alcohol.

He raised the bond from $163,500 to $175,000.

Judge Poole said she must undergo drug testing at least once a week and have random tests at least twice a month.  She previously had four tests during four months of home confinement.

Judge Poole said it was telling that the former Soddy Daisy postmaster had not called in on one day and then tested positive on the next.

District Attorney Neal Pinkston cited the gravity of the case and said punitive measures were called for in light of the violations.

Attorney Ben McGowan said there could have been a false positive on the test, which he said can be unreliable.  He said certain items, such as soy sauce and icing, as well as household products, can lead to a false reading.

He said he had inspected her house for over an hour on Wednesday "and I felt like I had fallen backwards into Bed, Bath & Beyond."  He said there were numerous lotions and powders throughout the house.  He also said he found a half-eaten chocolate cake with icing in the refrigerator.

Officer Galinger was struck and killed while inspecting an overflowing manhole on Hamill Road.  The rookie officer was originally from Cincinnati.  

There was testimony earlier that Ms. Hinds had had drinks at a restaurant near Ringgold prior to heading home along Hamill Road.  She was not taken into custody for several days and went on the TBI's Most Wanted List.

Judge Poole said Ms. Hinds could get up to 14 years in the case based on the 10 charges, which include vehicular homicide.

 

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