Five out of seven individuals involved in a violent incident known as the Cincinnati Beatdown appeared in court on Thursday morning, where they faced new charges that complicated their case.
The first to stand before the judge was Montanes Meriweather, who had recently been hit with an additional federal charge concerning illegal gun possession, given his previous felony conviction.
Prosecutor Kip Guinang presented evidence from nearby city surveillance, mentioning two new video angles of the altercation, although they haven’t been made public yet. He also noted allegations of racial slurs aimed at one perpetrator shortly after the conflict began.
The judge maintained Meriweather’s bond at $500,000.
In contrast, Dekyra Vernon’s bond was significantly reduced from $200,000 to $25,000, which drew applause from onlookers. She was further instructed to stay clear of downtown.
Her lawyer, Clyde Bennett, suggested that the charges stemmed primarily from issues of race and politics, insisting that it was merely a fight fueled by alcohol.
Guinang countered this claim, stating it was misguided to attribute the incident to racial motivations.
Jermaine Matthews, released soon after the altercation, had the same bond amount and was still permitted to maintain his job. Guinang asserted that he was a key instigator of the violence, declaring, “This is the guy who started it.”
Meanwhile, Matthews’ lawyer, Brandon Fox, insisted that his client was assaulted by white individuals when the scuffle commenced.
Dominique Kittle was ordered to remain in custody for a mental health evaluation, with his bond unchanged. His attorney indicated that Kittle suffers from delusional schizophrenia and had previously been declared innocent on insanity grounds concerning earlier charges.
During the court proceedings, Guinan referred to Kittle as a “significant danger” to the public.
Aisha Devarn also received a bond reduction from $300,000 down to $25,000 after her attorney highlighted her lack of prior felony convictions. Guinan remarked that Devarn had initially engaged in the fight without provocation.
There was an emotional moment in court when Matthews was escorted out, exclaiming intentions to confront Devarn once her bond situation resolved.
Patrick Rosemond, who was arrested last week in Georgia, was expected to appear in court soon, although he had not yet been transferred to Ohio.
All defendants—Matthews, Merriweather, Vernon, Devarn, Rosemond, and Kittle—are facing multiple serious charges, including three counts of felony assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated riot, according to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. If convicted, they could each be looking at up to 30 years in prison.
The seventh person involved, Gregory Wright, was arrested earlier this week on charges relating to aggravated riot and robbery. All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
