Judge admits mistake after rape suspect let out on bond is accused of similar crime

ATLANTA — A local judge admitted Thursday that he made a mistake when he granted bond to a suspect accused of rape.

The suspect -- while out on bond -- was arrested again on rape charges, officials said.

That suspect faced Craig Schwall, the same judge, on Thursday to answer for the latest charge, and this time, Schwall wasn’t so lenient.

“I made a mistake, and I’m not going to make a mistake again,” Schwall said during the hearing.

Schwall said he previously gave Raymond Jones “the benefit of the doubt.”

“He was a veteran, he was young, and he didn’t have a record,” Schwall said. “And he picked up a third charge.”

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The first indictment against Jones happened April 12, 2016. The second was Sept. 11, 2016. The most recent case was April 25, 2017.

Jones -- who goes by “Chef Ray” -- is a personal chef who appears in videos on YouTube.

Will Arnold, Jones’ defense attorney, said his client is presumed innocent.

“He served his country and while serving his country for the military, he fell from a plane and actually suffered a traumatic injury. He was diagnosed as such. He was also diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress syndrome,” Arnold said.

Schwall denied Jones’ bond Thursday.

"I know last time he got out, he allegedly raped someone else. I don't want the situation to repeat itself," one of the alleged victims told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne.

Cox Media Group