Bond reduced for man accused in Macon murder, home invasion robbery

A lawyer representing a man charged with the home invasion robbery and killing of an east Macon man argued in court Thursday that his client was elsewhere when the crime happened.

Antwan Denard Johnson, 26, of Macon hasn't been identified by witnesses at 42-year-old Ulysses Pitts' house as being one of the three men who forced their way inside Jan. 7, said Alan Wheeler, Johnson's lawyer.

"My client has maintained, to this day, he wasn't anywhere in the neighborhood where the armed robbery and the murder occurred," Wheeler said.

However, two women who live within walking distance of Pitts' house have said that Johnson was one of the men who arrived soon after 7 a.m. that day, asking for a place to "chill," prosecutor Larissa Olliverre said during the hearing in Bibb County Superior Court.

Wheeler said Johnson denies knowing the women or being at their home on the day Pitts died.

Johnson is charged with armed robbery and murder in Pitts' death.

Authorities have said Pitts was pistol-whipped and shot multiple times with two young boys, ages 10 and 13, in the house.

Olliverre said the boys also were held at gunpoint inside Pitts' McCall Road home, located off Jeffersonville Road. A family member has said they still are "traumatized" by what happened.

Wheeler asked the judge to reduce Johnson's bond, saying the case has gone nearly a year without an indictment.

County jail records show Johnson has been in custody since Jan. 18.

Olliverre said prosecutors are waiting on the third man to be identified before submitting the case to a grand jury for indictment. Wheeler countered that not knowing the identity of the third suspect shouldn't bar prosecutors from seeking an indictment, moving the case toward trial.

Sherod Holston, 25, also is charged in Pitts' killing.

He is being held at the county jail on $82,700 bond. His bond is set to be reconsidered next week.

Olliverre said a witness has told authorities that Johnson admitted to him his involvement in the killing.

Unrelated burglary and terroristic threats charges also are pending against Johnson, she said.

Judge Verda Colvin reduced Johnson's $75,000 bond to $70,000 and warned prosecutors, "The case needs to move."

To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Bond reduced for man accused in Macon murder, home invasion robbery ."