Justin Givens and Alyssa McGuire both made court appearances in Common Pleas Court on Monday facing allegations they both were already charged with prior to the homicide shooting death of MaryAnn McGuire in mid-March. (Photo by Deanne Johnson)

LISBON — Justin Givens, the Salineville area man who is a suspect in the murder of MaryAnn McGuire, was denied a lower bond based in part on his most recent actions while in the county jail.

Givens, 27, state Route 644, waived his rights to a preliminary hearing when he appeared by video from the county jail before County Municipal Court Judge Katelyn Dickey on Monday. He was bound over to the grand jury on a charge of having weapons while under a disability, a third-degree felony.

At that point, his defense attorney James Wise asked for the $1 million cash or surety bond holding Givens to be reduced. Wise noted it was “extremely excessive for the charge.”

However, Assistant County Prosecutor Alec Beech said the prosecutor’s office was opposed to the reduction. In addition to being “a person of interest in a homicide case,” Givens allegedly has been looking for a way to escape custody, according to Beech. The prosecutor’s office has learned Givens has “faked an injury” so he could be transported to a hospital in an attempt to escape, as well as “solicited other inmates” at the jail in plans to make an escape.

“We would consider him a flight risk,” Beech said.

Givens was bound over to the grand jury on the charge, which stems from a rifle allegedly found inside one of Givens’ trucks while investigators were looking for him following the shooting death of McGuire on the porch of her home on March 18. Dickey left his bond at $1 million.

Following his hearing in county Municipal Court, Givens was transported to Common Pleas Court where he appeared before Judge Megan Bickerton on other charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, as well as obstructing official business and endangering children, each a misdemeanor. Dates were scheduled in the case for a jury trial on Aug. 30 and a final status conference on Aug. 26.

Givens’ $10,000 bond, which had been revoked when he was charged with the weapons under disability charge after the shooting, was now set at $50,000 cash or surety in this case. Bickerton reminded him he is not to possess any firearms or have any contact with co-defendant Alyssa M. McGuire.

The charges stem from McGuire and Givens allegedly having a firearm in the vehicle on Dec. 26 accessible to everyone inside, including small children riding in the vehicle at the time. The two allegedly switched seats before the officer approached the vehicle and then denied switching seats. During a search of the vehicle, two loaded firearms were discovered. McGuire allegedly said the revolver belonged to her, but not the rifle, while Givens denied the rifle was his but had ammunition to the revolver.

McGuire, 28, Depot Road, Lisbon, also appeared in Common Pleas Court Monday on charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, as well as obstructing official business and endangering children, each a misdemeanor.

McGuire, who was not in custody, was appointed a new defense attorney Charley Kidder, after Wise filed a motion asking to be allowed to withdraw as McGuire’s attorney due to a possible conflict of interest as he defends Givens as well.

Dates also were scheduled for McGuire with her status conference set for Aug. 12 and her jury trial on Aug. 23. Assistant County Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones also asked for McGuire’s bond to include an order to have no contact with Givens and to maintain a home in Columbiana County.

McGuire is scheduled to appear on Thursday in county Municipal Court, where she has a preliminary hearing on a charge of obstructing justice, for allegedly providing false stories to investigators about her and Givens’ actions following the shooting death of her stepmother, MaryAnn McGuire.

No murder charges have been filed yet in the case.

djohnson@mojonews.com