By NIKKI STERLING
Guest Column
The holiday season was approaching, and my family was just beginning to make plans to celebrate. It had been a year since we’d seen my oldest son, Dylan McGinnis, due to travel restrictions related to the pandemic and we were so excited to be seeing each other.
Dylan McGinnis
Dylan was spending the week with us in Arizona to celebrate his 24th birthday. Celebrations were in full swing, as we gathered for special dinners, a trip to Sedona and a staycation at a Scottsdale Resort. As he prepared to return to Indiana, I told him to think about whether he wanted to come back and visit during Thanksgiving or Christmas – or both. He loved the season because that was when he was able to spend extra time with his family and friends. I gave Dylan a hug and a kiss goodbye and told him that I was proud of him and that I loved him. As I watched him walk towards the airport terminal, I had no idea I had just embraced my son for the last time.
On Oct. 1, Dylan was a victim of gun violence while counseling a friend who was battling substance abuse. Upon learning the devastating news, my world instantly fell apart and my mind flooded with questions. How could this happen to somebody like Dylan?
Dylan grew up in Hamilton County, attended Brooks School Elementary, Maple Glen Elementary School, Westfield Middle School and was a 2016 Graduate of Westfield High School. He enjoyed sports such as little league baseball, youth football and rugby. Birthday celebrations growing up were spent at our favorite local restaurants. As a young adult, he lived in Noblesville, on Morse Reservoir, where he enjoyed boating and water sports with his family and friends. He was always so kind to everyone and would give up the shirt on his own back to help another in need. He did not like conflict and would avoid it if possible. As recorded in the probable cause affidavit, Dylan was heard apologizing to his shooter just moments before being shot.
Approximately three weeks after his death, I received a call informing me that the individual who shot Dylan had a record as a violent offender. This person had been bailed out of jail on a $5,000 bond, with pending felonies, by a charitable bail organization called The Bail Project. I wasn’t aware that such organizations existed or how they operated but decided to quickly become informed due to the impact that it had on my family.
I learned that the City of Indianapolis financially supports this organization with taxpayer dollars. Additionally, they operate without regulation, meaning they can bail out whomever they want, regardless of the charge (felony or misdemeanor). Furthermore, once out on bond, the offender is not accountable to the charitable bail organization and the organization does not have any oversight of the offender once released.
It quickly became my mission to develop more of an understanding and immediately begin to take action to ensure that what happened to my family doesn’t happen to others.
Charitable bail organizations need to be regulated. In principle, aiding an individual who stole food from the grocery store to feed their family is admirable; however, that is not how this organization operates. They are bailing out offenders with a violent criminal history.
Just three months prior to Dylan’s shooting, Marcus Garvin (charged with a stabbing in a convenience store) was bailed out of jail by The Bail Project. It is alleged that he then proceeded to murder his girlfriend. Just two months after Dylan’s shooting, Deonta Williams was bailed out of jail by the same organization and has been accused of stabbing two police officers.
My husband and I have met and are committed to working with Indiana state legislators to discuss the presentation of a bill during the next legislative session to regulate charitable organizations. The regulation would prohibit charitable bail organizations from posting bond for offenders with felony charges and impose a bail bond cap of $2,000 on misdemeanors.
My wish is that this bill gets passed so that no other family falls victim to the actions of such organizations.
How can you leave a comment that will be heard by the right ppl? There def needs to be an oversight committee, esp if it’s my taxpayer’s dollars being used. It has to stop!
First of all I want to extend my condolences for your loss. I totally agree with what you are trying to accomplish. This system is hurting more than helping. I do hope your implementation works. God Bless you and your family
Those with felony charges should not be bailed out,only those with misdemeanors.
Bless you and I’m sorry it has taken such a tragedy to bring this organization to light. Prayers for your family..
Love and prayers cousin. I support you 1000%
Thank you for sharing your story. Something needs to be done to stop this atrocity and this organization needs to be held accountable for letting criminals back out onto the streets.
God bless you Nikki! I support what you are doing wholeheartedly! Dylan was a handsome and wonderful young man who didn’t deserve this! And then to know the shooter should’ve never even been out on the street !! Horrific.
Accountability is Key in this situation, The Courts, In The State Of Indiana hold liable and responsible when a defendant is bond out through a surety bail bond. Meaning a Bail Bondsman the court hopes that the Bail Agency are hold liable and responsible for the defendant Appearance in court, and that the defendant is not involve in any illegal activities.I strongly believe that the Courts should be hold accountable, and the Bail Project should be suit and regulate in all the State that they are working and Suit for all offenders that will continue to commit crimes while on the Bail Project Bond Release.
I’m so sorry for your loss and had never heard about this bail out till then I’m totally against this and you have my support 1000%.
I think you are overstepping when it comes to restricting them to only posting bail for misdemeanors. Now, what happened to your son is tragic! I have so much empathy for you and what you are going through. But not all felony crimes are VIOLENCE Related. I also don’t think that’s right to put a cap on it of 2000. Lots of people have an array of situations who have never in life been violent! I get the need for regulation on this topic for sure but you can not regulate it to the point you are basically controlling their organization. If they want to regulate it maximum restriction should be a non violent offenses with no history of violent offenses. 2nd of all not all people accused of a crime on guilty, you need to do more research.
The bail project doesn’t vet anyone that they bail out!! They admitted that they do not even read the props or cause affidavit. Maybe you should do some research!!!
This non-profit has no clue how to vet people arrested. The only way to make non-profits think hard about showing compassion is to batter them with lawsuits, as Mr. Rojas mentions above, perhaps a bail bondsman too. I’m sorry you lost your son.
This is the non-profit https://bailproject.org/
I am so sorry this happened. This should not be allowed, period.