Judge Denies Bond For Man Accused Of Abducting His Wife

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – Violating bond conditions once was a sufficient reason for a circuit court judge on Thursday to conclude Doug Young had forfeited the right to again be released on bond.

Judge Robert H. Montgomery Jr. denied that a bond amount be set for Young, who is accused of sexually assaulting and kidnapping his estranged wife earlier this year.

Young, who is incarcerated at Sullivan County jail, had been charged with aggravated rape stemming from a December 2007 incident and was free on a $50,000 bond when prosecutors say he kidnapped his wife and fled the area, leading authorities on a week-long chase through three states.

General Sessions Court Judge Bill Watson revoked Young’s bond when he missed a Jan. 9 hearing and issued a warrant for his arrest. Another bond had not been set in the case.

“Even a failure-to-appear [in court] can be the basis for forfeiting the right to bond,” Montgomery said at Thursday’s hearing, adding that Young had violated a string of conditions for his release, including contacting his estranged wife, possessing a firearm, consuming alcohol and leaving the area.

“I find that he has forfeited that right,” Montgomery ruled.

Young’s court-appointed defender, Andrew Kennedy, pointed out that his client could stay with his mother in Piney Flats, Tenn., but did not present any evidence on Thursday.

Young, a former superintendent at BurWil Construction, had his boss sign as the surety on the bond that he violated.

Heather Renee Moore divorced Young in May on the grounds of “inappropriate marital conduct,” which – significantly – took place before the first alleged offense in December.

Young is scheduled for two separate trials in August and December, though attorneys said in court Thursday that the dates would be susceptible to change.

Young’s August trial is on four counts of aggravated rape, and aggravated burglary and especially aggravated kidnapping. Each count of aggravated rape allows for a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Young faces another count of aggravated rape and felony failure to appear in a separate trial, currently scheduled for December.

| (276) 645-2558