A Polk County Superior Court Judge Tuesday granted a request of bond for a Cedartown man charged in the August 20 death of a Rockmart woman.

Judge Richard Sutton set bond for Ricardo Latjuan Ware, 20, at $75,000.

In November, a Polk Grand Jury indicted Ware on multiple murder and felony charges for the death of Sharon Starr Bussey, 44, of 544 Beaureguard St., Rockmart.

Assistant District Attorney Drew Lane argued against bond for Ware, saying the defendant didn't qualify for bond because of stipulations in the law concerning the granting of bond. One of those stipulations was the harassment of witnesses on the prosecution list, but Judge Sutton told Lane the only witnesses listed thus far for the prosecution were law enforcement officers.

"I'm sure they are not worried about being harassed by Mr. Ware," Judge Sutton said.

Phyllis Ware, the mother of the defendant, told the court in the hearing that her son had quit school in the 10th grade and that he was a former employee of a fast food restaurant.

Judge Sutton asked Ms. Ware if her son were released if should would be able to control his whereabout and she said "probably not."

As of Wednesday morning, Polk County Jail Administrator Mike Sullivan, said Ware was still in jail at the county facility.

Sullivan said Ware's family would only need to come up with $1,125 or 15 percent of the $75,000 to make bond for the defendant.

Sullivan said the order did require a professional bonding company to sign any bond granted to Ware. rather than just a family member.

According to police accounts and Superior Court documents:

In October, Cedartown police arrested Ware, of 100 Janes St., for the murder of Ms. Bussey.

Bussey's body was found on Aug. 20 near an abandoned concrete block plant on Jefferson Street, about three blocks from downtown Cedartown.

According to the indictment, Ware has been charged on 15 counts. These include murder, kidnaping, rape, aggravated sodomy, robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, and two counts of aggravated assault. He additionally has six counts of felony murder, which were given in connection for the more serious offenses.

Authorities state in the indictment that Ware used a concrete block to hit Bussey in the head, which killed her. He also stole some cigarettes and sexually abused her.