A Rockmart man accused as the lone suspect in the shooting death of his wife remains in jail, and as far as Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats is concerned he’ll remain there even if he has to go before the judge to keep him in a cell until he faces a trial.

Moats explained that family members tried once again to get Blackmon released from jail where he has been for the past 103 days.

Blackmon was arrested in late October after an eight-day manhunt across several counties in Northwest Georgia that ended in Carroll County. He has remained in jail on a charge of murder, possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, cruelty to children and influencing a witness, and when he was first arrested no bond was set.

Then when he made an appearance for a bond hearing before Tallapoosa Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Meng Lim, he was able to get a $500,000 bond – despite the protests of District Attorney Jack Browning. That figure was too high for him to be released, so attorneys went back to court seeking a reduction and got it to $100,000.

He has remained in jail despite that ever since.

Moats said his family wanted to utilize a transfer bond from Carroll County – property where Blackmon was found used as collateral and owned by his father – that is valued over the cost of the bond.

However, Moats said he denied that request under his purview as Sheriff. He can deny taking a transfer bond from another county, and said that no transfer bond has ever been used in Polk County as far as he is aware to get a suspect out of jail for murder charges.

Moats provided the following statement to Polk.Today on the matter:

“As Sheriff, I took an oath to serve and protect the citizens of Polk County. Today I refused to accept the bond on Jimmy Blackmon, the man accused of murdering his wife,” he said. “I am concerned of the flight risk of Blackmon because of the fact he eluded law enforcement for over a week after he fled the murder scene. I have chosen to fight my decision in court to protect the citizens and law enforcement of Polk County.”

Moats is expecting to have to face Judge Lim in an hearing to explain his decision. He said a date for him to appear before the bench had not yet been set.

Blackmon is accused of the shooting death of his wife Ginger in October 2020. If released from jail, he would be required to wear an ankle monitor and remain at 118 Rice Road, where the crime took place and not far from the campuses of Rockmart Middle and Rockmart High Schools.

During the manhunt, both schools were placed on a temporary lockdown after it was reported Blackmon returned home during his flight from justice.

Blackmon is expected to remain in custody until the matter over whether Moats will be ordered by the court to accept the transfer bond is enforced.

Check back for updates as they become available.