NARRATOR: Next, we join a virtual court hearing
in St. Joseph County, Michigan.
People versus Coby James Harris.
Is that you, sir?
Yes, Your Honor.
NARRATOR: 21-year-old Coby Harris
was charged with assault with intent
to cause great bodily harm for allegedly assaulting
his girlfriend and threatening to hit her with a metal pipe
during an argument at her apartment.
That is a felony punishable by up to 10 years'
imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.
You're charged as a second habitual offender,
making that a maximum 15-year offense.
NARRATOR: Harris is currently out on bond
with a protection order placed against him for the alleged
victim's safety.
Her name and identity are being withheld for privacy.
Do you see Coby in the virtual courtroom here today?
And if you're on a phone, just--
Yes.
--swipe to the right.
And, [bleep],, on that day, was there an argument
between you and Coby?
Yeah.
NARRATOR: Asking the questions is Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney Deborah Davis.
And during the course of the argument, what happened?
I mean, it wasn't even a very long argument.
We just kind of both got really angry.
Just kind of like an accusative argument, just like,
I don't know.
[bleep],, did the police come to your apartment that night?
They did, yeah.
And why did they come to the apartment?
Because the police were called.
So they came here.
Who called the police?
I mean, technically, me.
NARRATOR: But following the alleged victim's series
of evasive responses, the prosecutor senses something
is wrong based on what she's seeing.
Your Honor, I have reason to believe that the defendant is
in the same apartment as the complaining witness right now,
and I'm extremely scared for her safety.
The fact that she's looking off to the side
and he's moving around, I want some confirmation that she
is safe before we continue.
Miss [bleep],, where are you right now?
What's the address?
[bleep].
JEFFREY MIDDLETON: OK.
NARRATOR: As Judge Jeffrey Middleton investigates what
could be a potentially dangerous situation,
an officer can be seen making an impromptu phone call.
Mr. Harris, where are you?
[bleep] East Lafayette, Your Honor.
All right, I want you to walk out to the front of the house,
show me the house number on the house.
Why?
I-- I don't even think this phone has the charge for that,
sir.
I'm at, like-- I'm at, like, 2% right now.
I'm-- I'm hooked up to this wall charger right here.
NARRATOR: While Harris refuses the judge's request,
it becomes clear who the officer was
phoning just moments earlier.
The police are at Miss [bleep]'s's apartment right now,
knocking on the door.
Good.
All right.
Miss [bleep],, could you go answer the door?
Yeah, give me one second.
Can you take your phone with you so that I know you're OK?
NARRATOR: The alleged victim walks to the door
and speaks with officers before her phone abruptly shuts off.
Then with all eyes on Harris, he appears
nervous, before standing up and shutting his phone off.
Moments later, Coby Harris rejoins the conversation--
Your Honor?
NARRATOR: --as he's being handcuffed by police.
Yes?
Your Honor, me and [bleep] both don't want the no-contact.
Oh, god.
I ask that that be dropped.
I'm sorry I lied to you.
I knew the cops were outside.
Don't want the no-contact.
NARRATOR: Prosecutor Davis's reaction pretty much
says it all.
Harris was in another room at the alleged victim's residence,
just as she suspected.
And I don't know why--
Mr. Harris?
I don't--
My advice is, don't say anything else.
Take the cigarette out of your mouth.
The hearing is adjourned.
Your bond is canceled.
NARRATOR: Harris is in clear violation of his bond terms,
which included a protection order that
prohibited him from coming within 500
feet of the alleged victim.
It's the first time I ever had anybody
sitting in the next room potentially intimidating the--
I never attacked her.
--witness of an assault great bodily harm.
Officers are directed to take him into custody
on a bond violation.
NARRATOR: Two weeks later, the hearing is continued,
this time with Harris signing in from county jail.
Coby Harris's original charge of assault
with intent to cause great bodily harm was later dropped.
But he was found guilty of domestic violence
with prior offenses and sentenced to 14 months
to five years in prison.
He was also found guilty of witness bribery, intimidation,
or interfering, and was sentenced to five months
to run concurrent with his other sentence.