James Holland, 39, of Lubbock, the man accused of continuously sexually abusing a close relative of murder victim Holli Jeffcoat, petitioned a judge to lower his $2 million bond so that he can be let out of jail while his trial date is pending.
Holland has not been charged with Jeffcoat’s murder but officials have said he is under investigation. Court records, including search warrants, have indicated the same thing.
Jeffcoat, 18, was found dead in her home in Northeast Lubbock County on February 10.
Holland’s motion, filed late Monday morning by attorney Fred Stangl, said, “James Holland is being unlawfully restrained of his liberty by Kelly Rowe, Sheriff of Lubbock County…”
“No probable cause exists to hold [Holland] on the complaint charged,” the motion said.
It also said, “[Holland] would further show that he is entitled to be admitted to bail and can secure bail in a reasonable amount, but that bail has heretofore been set by Justice of the Peace, Precinct #1 in the amount of $2,000,000.00, and that this amount is unreasonable and is in effect a denial of bail…”
State District Court Judge John J. McClendon, III set a hearing on the matter for March 31 at 10:00 a.m.
Before her death, Jeffcoat accused Holland of sexually abusing and impregnating her.
The other family member – who is under age – at first denied that she was ever abused by Holland. But later her story changed.
She later claimed that Holland would have sex with her two or three times a week. She claimed that Holland began touching her inappropriately when she was 9 years old. Later the touching became sexual intercourse according to Holland’s arrest warrant.
