Indicted former Savannah-Chatham police detective Trina Katrice Mayes turned herself in to authorities Friday morning, two days after being indicted on seven counts of making false statements to investigators and police officials involving her association with criminals.
She was booked at the Chatham County jail about 9 a.m. under her maiden name, Trina Katrice Williams.
Also Friday, defense attorney Richard Darden asked a judge to “set a reasonable bond” for Mayes.
Chatham County Superior Court Judge John E. Morse Jr. scheduled a bond hearing for Thursday. She will remain in jail in the meantime.
Morse also scheduled a hearing for March 6 on prosecutor Christy Barker’s request that he impose a gag order barring prosecutors, defense attorneys and Mayes herself from making any statements or releasing information to any media outlet that has “a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing” court proceedings.
The indictment, returned by the Chatham County grand jury on Wednesday, charges that Mayes, 34, on seven occasions made false statements to investigators and officials, including Interim Police Chief Julie Tolbert and Savannah City Manager Stephanie Cutter, involving her contact with criminals.
Mayes was suspended pending dismissal Jan. 17, and both Tolbert and Cutter rejected her appeals.
Barker’s gag-order request came as prosecutors apparently were irked by Mayes’ civil lawyer Will Claiborne’s release of a proposed indictment provided to Mayes’ lawyers in advance of Wednesday’s grand jury session.
Without naming the “counsel” involved, the motion said he has made “extrajudicial comments to various media outlets (including the Savannah Morning News) regarding potential evidentiary issues that may be addressed at trial.”
Included in the alleged conduct was providing internal police memoranda “that are not public record,” sending a copy of the proposed indictment against Mayes to media outlets earlier this week and making extensive comment on potential evidence.
Claiborne represents 11 current or former department officers — including Mayes — in potential civil litigation stemming from alleged damages suffered as a result of police misconduct.
He has filed ante litem letters on city and county officials, which are required before an individual can sue a governmental agency, but no lawsuits had been filed Friday in the cases.
Barker declined to comment on her motion on Thursday.
Claiborne said Thursday the prosecutor’s action ignored conduct by other parties and was an attempt to silence the whistleblower.
He said the city attorney and the city’s spokesman released more than 200 documents to the news media between Jan. 17 and Feb. 3.
“Yet, the DA only wants to gag me and not the city attorney, city manager, chief of police or the city’s spokesman,” Claiborne said. “They sure do want the whistleblowers to shut up.” He said his comments are allowed under the state rules for attorneys.