Bond Denied for Convicted Stephens County Man Seeking New Trial

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

A man convicted of murder in Stephens County in 2012 will stay in jail while courts determine whether he gets a new trial.

Court officials report that Steve A. Sims, Jr. Of Toccoa was denied bond at a hearing last week in Stephens County Superior Court before Judge Chan Caudell.

Attorneys for Sims. had asked for bond for their client while the Georgia Supreme Court ultimately decides whether to grant him a new trial.

In September 2012, Sims was convicted of felony murder and other charges and sentenced to life in prison in connection to the March 2012 death of Shawn Hancock of Toccoa.

Judge Caudell granted a motion for a new trial for Sims in May, agreeing with arguments from Sims’ attorneys that he received ineffective trial counsel.

During his trial Sims’ attorney failed to object to improper comments made by the prosecution.

However, the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office has appealed Caudell’s order granting a new trial to the Georgia Supreme Court.