Clayton Courtney
A Rock County judge has set a $500,000 cash bond for a Janesville man accused of fatally beating his girlfriend to death.
28-year-old Clayton Courtney made his initial court appearance Friday on first-degree intentional homicide charges in the death of 21-year-old Britney Cross. The Edgerton woman’s body was found May 5th near Janesville’s Traxler Park. Police say she had been bludgeoned with a rock.
Courtney was already in custody when police found Cross’ body. He was arrested the night before after allegedly stabbing his roommate multiple times and setting fire. He’s been in jail since then on attempted homicide and arson charges. Police arrested him for Cross’ murder on Thursday at the Rock County Jail.
Courtney’s attorney, Joshua Klaff, argued that his client is already unable to post bail in the other case, so an initial request for a million dollar bond from the state is absolutely inappropriate. However, District Attorney Richard Sullivan says the facts and circumstances in the case, including Cross’ blood being found on Courtney’s pants, make a high bond more than justified. Court Commissioner Stephen Meyer ruled that Courtney does pose a flight risk, if he were able to post bail, in setting bond at half a million dollars.
WCLO