Judge denies bond for suspect in Cole County teen’s 1991 killing

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The suspect in the 1991 killing of a Cole County boy will stay in jail for now after a judge on Monday denied a request to set bond in the case.

William "Chris" Niemet appeared by video before Judge Cotton Walker at the Cole County Courthouse on Monday.

Niemet's attorney, Curtis Hanrahan, requested a $100,000 bond. Hanrahan said that while Neimet employs "quite a few people" and could likely pay that amount, he doesn't know how much more than that Niemet could post to bond out. He has been jailed since last month without bond.

Niemet was 14 when he allegedly murdered 14-year-old Greg Jones, his classmate at Russellville schools.

At the hearing, prosecutors called on a witness who had conducted Niemet's pre-trial investigation. He found that Niemet scored a two on the risk assessment scale, with nine being the most at risk for posing danger to the community or not appearing in court. However, prosecutors argued that this score does not take into account the seriousness of Niemet's charge or the fact that he allegedly tampered with evidence and witnesses and could do so again.

Hanrahan said before the hearing that he believes if this were anyone else, they would have been able to bond out of custody already. However, Hanrahan believes the publicity and social media storm surrounding the case has affected Niemet's ability to get a bond.

"The prosecution has been, and I think I understand why, reluctant to turn over many of the discovery materials," Hanrahan said. "They are not anxious for this case to come to trial."

Niemet also waived his preliminary hearing Monday. He is next set to appear in court on March 25.