A Georgia man facing attempted kidnapping charges was granted bond Tuesday after spending six weeks in jail. Mahendra Patel, 57, received a $10,000 bond from a Cobb County Superior Court judge and was released later in the day.
Judge A. Gregory Poole oversaw the bond hearing in Marietta, where Mahendra Patel appeared. Patel had been held without bond since his arrest in late March following an incident at an Acworth retail store.
Patel's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, argued for his release, presenting security footage from the store. Merchant contended the video showed her client was attempting to help a mother with her child, not trying to kidnap the toddler as alleged. She stated the video couldn't be clearer that no kidnapping attempt occurred.
The defense also highlighted Patel's ties to the community, including property ownership, family, volunteer work, and membership in organizations like the Kiwanis Club. Merchant noted strong support for Patel, with numerous friends, relatives, and neighbors attending the hearing.
Prosecutor Jesse Evans opposed bond, arguing the video depicted Patel grabbing the child and fleeing. Evans also cited Patel's criminal history, including a prior federal felony conviction for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and a pending DUI case.
The incident stemmed from a complaint by Caroline Miller, the child's mother, who told police Patel approached her asking for help finding medicine. She alleged he tried to grab her 2-year-old son from her while she was on a motorized cart. Miller previously described a "tug-of-war" over the child. A grand jury indicted Patel on April 3 on charges including criminal attempt to commit kidnapping.
Prosecutors also claimed Patel made admissions to police after his arrest, stating he grabbed the child and upset the mother. The state maintained that attempted kidnapping was the appropriate charge based on the legal definition, which includes the slight asportation of a person.
Judge Poole acknowledged the arguments regarding the video but stated it was not his role to determine guilt or innocence at the hearing. He found Patel did not pose a flight risk based on the video and noted his community ties. The judge also reviewed Patel's history, indicating he did not believe it showed a risk to the community. Following the hearing, courtroom observers applauded the judge's decision.
"I'm going to grant this man a bond. He's entitled to a bond," Judge Poole said.
