Man given bond despite Myrtle Beach murder charge, allegation of ordering a hit from jail
A man accused of murdering a person who tried to escape a kidnapping — and then putting a hit on a witness — could soon be freed.
It’s been a months-long saga as Javaline Dawkins sought bond in his case. He has been held in J. Reuben Long Detention Center since his June 2018 arrest. Myrtle Beach police charged Dawkins with murder and say he shot Ryan Bryant as Bryant tried to escape from the trunk of a car on U.S. Highway 17.
The shooting happened at the intersection of 29th Avenue North near Broadway at the Beach.
Dawkins had previous attempts for bond denied or shuffled from one judge to another. That was until Thursday when Dawkins’ attorney Tommy Brittain went before Judge Steven John for a hearing.
Brittain said after Dawkins learned he was a suspect, he thought about fleeing, but did not.
“He stayed in the area, he did not flee,” Brittain said.
DNA evidence might exonerate Dawkins and investigators did not find any of the suspect’s hair in the car, Brittain said.
“In fact the evidence is more on his side than it is on the prosecution’s side,” his lawyer said.
Dawkins’ trial is set for mid-July and Brittain said he would be able to prepare with his client out of jail. While solicitors suggested they could meet in empty courtrooms ahead of trial, Brittain said it was difficult for him to take days out of his schedule to spend days at the courthouse meeting with Dawkins.
Senior Assistant Solicitor Nancy Livesay said Dawkins was recently released from federal prison on a carjacking charge when he committed the murder.
“I really do think he is a danger to the community,” Livesay said.
She also described how a jail informant told investigators that while in custody, Dawkins tried to get people to harm a witness in the murder case.
John granted a $250,000 bond for Dawkins but put several conditions on it. Most notably, the bond expires in July, whether the trial happens or not. If there is no trial, Dawkins will have to return to jail.
Dawkins also has to wear an ankle monitor and remain on home detention while on bond.
