A circuit court judge on Friday lowered the bond amount on two men charged in connection with the May 4 shooting of a state trooper.

Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein reduced the previous bond of $175,000 to $50,000 surety with a 10 percent option on Michael Glover, 37, and Anthony T. Glover, 34. That means they can get out of jail if they come up with $5,000 apiece.

Both men are charged with assault and battery with intent to kill in connection with the shooting of S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Quincy Brown during a traffic stop.

But Goodstein said she was reducing the bond amount because their nephew, 21-year-old Anthony Darnell Glover, allegedly admitted to the shooting and said his uncles had nothing to do with it. But prosecutors allege the two didn’t try to help the trooper, who is still recovering.

As of late Friday afternoon, the two Glovers were still being housed at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention center.

Officials allege Anthony Darnell Glover was the triggerman in the shooting. The younger suspect, who has also been charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, is not seeking bond.

The motion for the bond reduction was made on Tuesday by defense attorney Charles Williams, who could not be reached for comment late Friday.

The bond hearing was the third the elder Glovers. The day after the shooting, Orangeburg County Magistrate Peggy Doremus denied bond on the men.

Then, on June 3, attorney Glenn Walters requested a bond reduction before Goodstein, who then set bond on the two elder Glovers at $175,000 each.

On Friday, Goodstein granted Williams’ motion for an even further reduced bond, citing a change of circumstances.

“It appears the co-defendant, Anthony Darnell Glover, has executed a statement taking full, unequivocal responsibility for the shooting, denying any knowledge of or involvement in the shooting by Michael Glover or Anthony Troy Glover,” Goodstein’s order states.

Attached to Goodstein’s order is what the judge labeled as Exhibit A, which is said to a copy of Anthony Darnell Glover’s statement made to attorney Glenn Walters during the initial bond hearing.

Goodstein says in her order that the magistrate’s court may have erred by not considering the statement.

“I find that at this time there exists a change of circumstances in that at the initial bond hearing, the court did not believe that Solicitor (Kelly) Burbage had actually viewed the affidavit of Anthony Darnell Glover,” the order indicates.

However, at the time of the initial bond, First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe handled the hearing, not Burbage.

In each of the three hearings, prosecutors argued against any type of bond for the three, who have been indicted for assault and battery with intent to kill by an Orangeburg County grand jury.

“We object to any bond in this case,” Pascoe said. “There is not a change in circumstances that warrants a change in bond.”

On Tuesday, Burbage said the elder Glovers listed either Charlotte or Columbia as their residence, had criminal histories and did not attempt to assist the wounded trooper.

Brown, who was present at the hearing, told Goodstein he is still undergoing therapy for gunshot wounds he received during the traffic stop.

Around 4:30 p.m. on May 4, Brown pulled a rental car over for speeding at the junction of Highways 301 and 176. As the trooper attempted to get the two men in the front seats out of the vehicle, a rear passenger opened fire.

Struck four times, the trooper was airlifted to a Columbia hospital.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.

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