An 18-year-old was the fifth and final teenage suspect to be granted bond after a Cobb County armed home invasion in late May.
After being denied bond in his first court appearance, Verdeldric Ware was granted a $50,000 bond Friday, Channel 2 Action News reported. Cobb police believe he orchestrated an armed robbery that involved four 16-year-olds, who are all being charged as adults.
On May 28, Sarah Austin and America “Lucy” Lesesne were among those invited to a home near Powder Springs by Isabel Lay-Meireles’ teenage son to play video games, AJC.com previously reported. She didn’t know any girls were invited over.
However, three teens barged into the home, held the group at gunpoint and demanded an iPhone and Gucci wallet from the group, police said.
RELATED: 3 teens face adult charges after armed home invasion in Cobb
Ware, along with Thomas Poole and Jahvon Hammond, are accused of being the three robbers, while Austin and Lesesne were allegedly planted there to assist in the robbery. All five face first-degree burglary-home invasion, armed robbery and aggravated assault charges.
Last month, all four of the other suspects were granted $50,000 bonds and released, Channel 2 reported. Austin, Lesesne and Poole were the first three to appear in court, and their defense attorneys claimed Ware and Hammond acted alone.
However, prosecutors said the two teen girls grabbed a bottle of wine during the escape and acted as getaway drivers, while Poole is accused of helping hold the group at gunpoint.
MORE: 3 teens granted bond after alleged participation in armed home invasion in Cobb
The following week, Hammond appeared in court, where prosecutors accused him of being the one who brought the gun to the home. His mother testified that the Sprayberry High School student did well in class that said he would follow the judge’s orders if he was released from jail.
RELATED: 4th teen charged in Cobb home invasion gets $50K bond
Austin, Poole and Lesesne were all arrested near the scene, while Ware and Hammond were arrested days later.
As of Friday night, Ware remained in the Cobb jail, records show.
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