Savannah rapper Quando Rondo pleads not guilty to driving under the influence, reckless driving
At an arraignment in Chatham County State Court on Sept. 19, Tyquian Bowman, a Savannah resident and rapper also known by the name Quando Rondo, pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence (less safe, drugs) and reckless driving, said Bowman’s defense attorney Jonah Pine, who declined further comment.
The charges stem from an incident that took place on July 19, 2023, when Bowman was charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs. Bowman was later arrested by Savannah Police on Feb. 6 and booked into the Chatham County Detention Center for the incident. That case was bound up to Chatham County State Court on June 13 of this year.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for Oct. 23.
More: Tyquian Bowman, aka rapper Quando Rondo, arrested in Savannah on federal drug charges
More: U.S. Attorneys file motion in Quando Rondo federal case, allege gang membership
More: Savannah Rapper Quando Rondo and government agree to plea deal, will remain out on bond
Bowman’s other legal troubles
The not guilty plea surfaces as Bowman faces a civil suit tied to the same driving incident, and shortly after he pleaded guilty to federal drug charges.
On June 19, a man filed a civil lawsuit in Chatham County State Court against Bowman, alleging that, on July 19, 2023, Bowman crashed into his car, causing “serious bodily injuries” and more than $8,000 in medical bills. That case remains ongoing.
At a plea hearing at a federal courthouse on Aug. 13, Bowman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances (marijuana). If the case had gone to jury trial, U.S. Attorneys were expected to call expert witnesses that specialize in criminal street gangs and drug distribution, as previously reported by the Savannah Morning News.
In the indictment, federal prosecutors charged Bowman with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and one count to distribute controlled substances, as previously reported by SMN. The indictment alleges that beginning in January 2021, Bowman conspired with two other co-defendants to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana. As part of the plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss part of that count, particularly that Bowman conspired to possess and distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.
On June 14, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Bowman for conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and Violation of Street Gang Terrorism act, illegal use of a communication facility, and another count of conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. The June indictment alleged that Bowman is a member of the Rollin’ 60s gang and asked fellow gang members to provide him with guns and set up a marijuana sale in Macon, two and a half hours west of Savannah.
On Feb. 1, less than two months after the federal indictment was unsealed, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes placed the upcoming trial of Bowman on a dead docket at the request of Chatham County Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Louis Annunziata. In placing the case on the dead docket, Annuziata cited the federal case, which included “charges arising out of the same transaction and occurrence.” A dead docket postpones the case indefinitely but allows the court to reinstate it at any time at its discretion.
Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah rapper pleads not guilty to DUI, reckless driving