PLANO, Texas — The alleged ringleader of a Plano sex trafficking ring waived his right to a detention hearing Thursday morning on the advice of his attorney.
For now, that means that William McKinnley Garland will remain in federal custody, pending trial. He pleaded not guilty during Thursday’s appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly Priest at the federal courthouse in Plano.
Garland, 40, is being held the Fannin County jail, which is run by a private company that has a contract with the U.S. Marshals to house federal prisoners.
“On behalf of Mr. Garland, just remember that he’s presumed to be innocent regardless of the allegations and they’re serious allegations and we take those seriously,” said Garland’s court-appointed attorney, Rafael De La Garza.
His accused co-defendant, 24-year-old Jalen Alexander Bobo of Dallas, also waived his right to a detention hearing before Priest. His attorney, Rick Howard, declined to comment.
De La Garza said after the hearing that he decided to waive Garland’s detention hearing because he was just appointed to the case on Wednesday.
“With regards to waiving our detention hearing, we have a right to reopen later down the road if we feel that there’s an opportunity to reopen and present evidence at that point in time,” De La Garza said. “We need to see what the discovery is all about then we’ll make a more informed decision at that time on what’s best for Mr. Garland.”
FBI agents raided a Plano home earlier this month, arresting Garland, Bobo and 27-year-old Robberta Marie Khan from Euless.
All three of them have been indicted of charges of coercion and enticement and aiding and abetting. Garland and Bobo also face charges in connection with sex trafficking.
Garland and Bobo could be sentenced to up to life in prison if convicted. Khan faces up to 20 years.
At a hearing earlier this week, WFAA learned that Garland had confessed to sending messages to potentially other defendants, victims and witnesses from behind bars using a tablet that was provided to him. He was specifically instructed not to contact others involved in the case.
De La Garza told WFAA that Garland no longer has access to the tablet. He said he does not know who Garland contacted using the tablet.
He said that Garland is being housed in isolation and being denied access to a telephone.
“He hasn’t done anything that deserved isolation,” his attorney said.
De La Garza said he spoke with the judge about ensuring that Garland is not housed in isolation and that he is provided access to a phone so that he can contact his attorney and family.
Garland’s prior attorney withdrew from the case because Garland had not paid him. De La Garza was appointed because Garland says he is indigent and cannot afford to hire an attorney.